MOUNTAIN SMILES and TEARS is a celebration of life in all its messy glory. In this collection of stories and poems, the author shares some of her life's deepest challenges: a life-threatening medical condition, overcoming an addiction, confronting a rapist, caring for several relatives with dementia, and rebounding from a job loss. Even the threat of bears and a forest fire don't dampen her love for her Colorado mountain community. Each story will motivate you to overcome adversity and create a better life.