Louise Randall is an independent woman whose "glass is half full" mentality was passed onto her from her father. Louise hopes that those around her, especially her children, have that same ethic of life. Louise learns that if she is ever to find true love in her life, she will have to have a special man who has the same outlook, and that she can't mold others to that mentality. She finds such a man in the form of Harold Pierson, her second husband who most see as being unreliable and non-driven. But together, Louise and Harold and their children try one business venture after another, some with success, some without. World events such as World War I, the Great Depression and World War II affect what happens to the family and their ventures.
Marine hero Al Schmid is blinded in battle and returns home to be rehabilitated. He readjusts to his civilian life with the help of his soon to be wife.
An insurance company investigator goes to a small town to probe into a case of supposed suicide. The natives are not very cooperative and some turn hostile, leading to suspicion of foul play.
