This anthology of poems depicts the story of our family-which has been dealt a certain deck of cards and is challenged to make choices-and it paints portraits of furry companions and people who have played important roles and who have made an impact in our lives. Weaving a poignant and inspiring story to describe our gaman, a Zen Buddhist term that expresses perseverance and discipline in the face of adversity, this conglomeration of poems aims to remind us to persevere and always move forward, despite arduous challenges, never allowing personal turmoil to occupy center stage.