We were put onto a boat and set adrift. Often Catharina ponders the life-changing April morning in 1951 when she and her family boarded the Volendam in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on a voyage to Quebec City, Canada. For her, these words symbolize the challenges she faced as an immigrant growing up in Western Canada. Catharina's retrospective journey identifies some of the cultural and religious aspects of her upbringing that influenced her transition into adulthood - shaping her into the person she is today. When Joys Were Vivid is a story of resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity, and the universal longing for joy.