April 22, 2012

Note: some of you noticed my “opps” last week when I noted that Jean and I were married in 1965. I argued the case with my son, Daniel, but he accurately pointed out that he is forty, and others of our children are older which makes 1965 much more logical. dj

We moved about two miles north to a set of apartments just south of the intersection of 12^th street and Camelback in Phoenix in 1956. My father purchased a home with two cottages. Then he purchased at auction a set of barracks used for military housing, cut them in pieces and installed them on the property. To this day, I have no idea whether he got any kind of permits, or permission. He just did it. As I recall there were six one bedroom apartments in these units. After massive amounts of work by my mother and father, they actually became ready for occupancy. That gave my parents the income from the six new and two original apartments on which to live. Dad was about fifty and after he completed the apartments, he decided to go back to construction. That lasted a brief time and he fell off a roof, breaking his arm and generating a concussion. This was one of the few times in his life that he didn’t have a ranch where he could use his talents and it was not a good time, financially, or family-wise for us. My brother, Glenn, was about 16, so I was 14 and we shared bunk beds in the dining room.  I went to eighth grade at Longview elementary school and learned how to associate with genuine bums.

My education in smoking, fighting, shoplifting, using match guns to start fires in vacant lots and possibly a building under construction was well done and I became a real bum just like the rest. I don’t share these things because I am proud of them; rather, because I want those in the trenches now as parents, teachers, students, and children to know of these pathetic briar patches and avoid them as if they were the worst possible satanic traps – because they are. Last week I mentioned some of the sick, twisted, ways people justify misuse of drugs and find their ways into lurid sexual addictions and pornography. I won’t go any further with this; but if you have any questions, or doubts about the eternal consequences of any of these weapons Satan uses to bring us slowly down to Hell, ask your parents, or your spiritual advisor.

We just celebrated Easter, the Resurrection, the Atonement, and the great honor and blessing we have to be so loved by God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ, that He would reach below us all and provide the blessing of returning to his presence and enjoying eternal life. If you, like me, have fallen off the path and done dishonorable things counter to those principles God has provided for us, find the way back. Through full repentance, acceptance of the responsibility for errant ways, restitution where possible, and placing your heart and soul in the hands of our Savior, you can move forward and become spotless before Him, through his Grace. I have spent the last five decades pondering these truths; many times falling way short of the Iron rod, but I just keep trying because I know that the plan of happiness works and that I can, with my family become a celestial unit.

God bless you in all your cares.

Duane Jacobs, grandpa, popsa, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend