The true story of how a life with smooth shifting gears comes to a grinding halt after a frightful early evening phone call. Hopes and dreams come crashing down in an instant, a journey of problems and challenges begins. Forced down a muddy path with pot holes to dodge, trying to get around them without being swallowed up from debilitating pain. An honest account without sugarcoating, of perseverance, staying the course and deciding to swim instead of sink. Struggling to survive a new reality by taking a day at a time, propelled by love of family, a big yellow cat, and always a little humor to help stay on track. A detoured American dream that weaves through good times and bad, making adjustments dealing with medical misfortunes and aging parents as years tick by. Retirement finally seems possible as faces wrinkle with age, a new look in life emerges.