This book is a collection of stories on family, life and values. It begins with a story of the author's namesake, who came to California in 1849, in pursuit of happiness. The middle section is about a range of events in life. The final section is about beliefs - which helped guide the author's actions. The chapters tell individual stories but when read as a whole you will recognize a life full of experiences - some important, some not so much; but all comfortably wrapped in humor. Eclectic? You bet. Boring, no. The author recognizes that some people who participated in the events described in the book will remember things differently. That's OK with him. Memoirs are perceptions and not necessarily precise. The author asks readers who want 100% accuracy to write their own book.