Life's hard lessons learned along with the tenacity of a rural Florida family, who lived along the mystic Palm River, prepared Sonnie for the adversity that came his way in the Summer of 1944. The no-name storm that year, taking them by surprise, was no match for him or for his family's resilience even in the absence of their supportive patriarch, Daddy. Tackling the problems of daily life was challenging for this family of little means, but they realized when they worked together and played together, they were wealthy in so many other ways and could weather any of life's storms that were hurled their way. Daddy had prepared them well!