Chapter Two – The untrue legend of Oscar Kearnesky
August 8, 2015
What to do! What to do! Sunshine, their beautiful daughter
had been beguiled by Slick Cain, a dashing young man who had embedded himself
in the lives of Oscar, his wife Hilda, and of course their lovely daughter
Sunshine. Using his most deceiving city slicker ways Slick charmed the socks
off Sunshine, went to Lost Wages and married her in one of the many gambling
paradise drive through marriage places. Slick, with the willing assistance of
Sunshine cowed the Kearneskys into destroying Nifty B and B by overspending,
poor service and all the tried and true glop of a person with poor character and
only one goal. Get in; get what you can; and get out. He did.
Months passed with Nifty B and B hanging on by a thread. It
would take time to restore the good name of their live time business effort but
with added effort, the caring community pitching in to assist them in
rebuilding, they would survive financially. Their family name and reputation
would take much longer. Some things would never be the same. Sunshine would
soon give birth to a new generation. She was married but had no idea where
Slick had gone. She loved him and wanted him back. It was because of the
torture she was going through that Oscar determined to track down this fellow
who had caused a volcano to erupt under their whole world leaving chaos and
destruction in the wake. In Cain’s ramblings he had mentioned that he came from
a family of prosperous ranchers in the North Eastern part of Arizona in the
small town of Round Valley. He would go there and see if he could help his
daughter. He had no idea what he would find; who he would find; what he would
do; or even what was best for Sunshine.
Round Valley was a beautiful high mountain hamlet with a
main street leading invitingly to the three restaurants and two motels snuggled
along the state highway taking people through to the more sunny parts of
Arizona or on into New Mexico and the land of enchantment. A fine, sturdy post
office was perched prominently on the first slight curve of main-street and
seemed like the most logical place to find someone in this location. A
delightful lady, Amanda, in her mid-fifties asked cheerfully what his mission
was. When he said he was looking for Slick Cain, her demeanor changed, her face
drooped and she said had no knowledge of who this fellow might be. After a few
moments of stunned silence, she said in a subdued, almost whispered tone; “he
is my son.” He was always a good boy but when he was nineteen he started
working for a contractor with a rotten reputation. He became enamored with
money, fame, and fast living. The contractor had been using deceptive tactics,
had defrauded many people and was charged and convicted of fraud, embezzlement,
and other such trash. Slick avoided imprisonment by testifying against the
contractor and left very soon after leaving no forwarding address.
Scenario note: the fun thing about writing an untrue story
is that, as the author I can make my characters do anything I want them to do.
I am going to “take the road less traveled” and make these grandparents to be
into super heroes. Sunshine and Slick will find a way through hard work and
repentance to help each other make better decisions and do what is right for
the child of God they will bring into the world. Most stories like this end up
with the father in prison, the mother working hard to help her child with the
help of her family, but never feeling successful or fulfilled and always
feeling betrayed, disloyal, and ashamed.
I have watched time after time as beautiful people do dumb
things. Others just go through tough times because of illness, job loss, or
disaffection with family. The domino effect takes over and this becomes their
life instead of a slight detour. I believe our job as children of God who
believe in the worth of individuals is to seek out those circumstances in which
we can serve as ministering angels and help those in need.
You all inspire me. I see what you do to bless your families
and friends and I feel great joy and appreciation.
Duane Jacobs, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle,
cousin, and friend
-------
Adjustment hour
May 24, 2015
Decades ago in the early part of my professional career, we
would invite, or be invited to attend or participate in adjustment hour. This
activity was usually accompanied by an “open bar”, lots of gab, and
politicking. For example, while attending professional organization annual
meetings different publishers would present their latest and finest at
presenter tables; then, provide these adjustment hours to sweeten the deal for
different college and university employees, who, in turn would make
recommendations for the purchase of publications. Everyone was friends.
Everyone was happy, and all went well. Going to these conferences and
association meetings was enjoyable enough, although difficult because of the
ever degenerating environment. One of the expectations of those anticipating
professorial rank increases was participation in these organizations through
membership and leadership roles. A real “catch 22” for one not wanting to get
so far in the mud and sludge he would forget his real values.
I watched as some of the finest people I knew took little
journeys into the tantalizing world across the darkness over to the worldly,
spacious building just to be good with their jobs and never came back. I
watched others come back sans wives or husbands, void of interest in their
highest callings as sons and daughters of God. The justifications were
horrendous. The long-term outcomes were even more frightening than can be
imagined. People gave up all they had ever held sacred; all they had loved; all
they might have had in the future for a bowl of pottage. How easy to slip and
slide down that delightful little path into the warm embrace of those who had
gone before.
Quite frequently I see individuals of all ages who have made
that life-changing dive. I ask why and the answer is inevitably that others had
done them wrong; that people picked on them; that God never did anything for
them; that their parents, their religious leaders, and their friends had all
lied to them. They would not be fooled any longer. They would go out, find
their personal “adjustment hour” environment and climb in head first. My
observations in recent weeks and months of very young people abandoning their
spiritual instincts for lives with drugs, alcohol, cancer sticks, pornography,
spontaneous sex, violence, and crime make me sad. My answer; no God’s answer,
is to follow his commandments, whether from the Ten Commandments, or from the
Words of Christ to love God, love our fellow men, and love ourselves.
For those of us who have occasion to fall into this trap,
the answer is to get over oneself. Go to the nearest street corner and ask the
person with the sign if he would like to join him for a meal at Arby’s. Go to
the nearest Salvation Army store and ask to help stock shelves. Go to your son
or daughter and tell them you want to go on a hike with them. Find someone in
your apartment complex or neighborhood that looks like he has lost his last
friend and invite him to take a walk. Do something for someone else and the rewards
will come back 100 fold.
Half a dozen years ago a beautiful young cashier at a local
bank was assisting us as we went through some awkward moments when we changed
bank account numbers and had overdrawn the original account. She worked
diligently to ensure our satisfaction with the bank and in turn, our continued
patronage. A few weeks later when I returned to the bank to thank her for the
excellent, professional work she had done, she had disappeared. After a very
significant discussion with the bank manager and the head cashier the truth
slipped out that she had been fired for cause. The cause turned out to be that
she was trying to be the very best possible employee and while following the
laws and rules and protocols of the bank became a liability so they fired her
and blackballed her. I saw her and her children outside a retail store recently
and to my delight, she had not gone across to the dark side; rather, had
forgiven, forgotten, and moved on further into the light.
We can all choose to do as this beautiful child of God; or
we can continually linger in our personal pity party. It is exclusively our
choice.
Duane Jacobs, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother,
cousin, and friend
After all we can Do
November 2, 2014
Jean and I were at Wendy’s for our Friday night date and we
sat across the aisle from four young ladies. One had a pretty red flower in her
hair and after I asked them how they were doing she began motioning and singing.
Her “helper” told us that although she couldn’t say much more than she had, the
girl was thanking us for talking to her and telling us she was going to a party
to dance. The other girl and her “helper” sat quietly, but contented that all
was going well with the pleasantries.
Recently a wonderful young man returned from a Genealogy
Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, where he spent his
days and evenings helping people search out their ancestry. He gave the full
measure of his strength, his love, and his testimony in this service. Back home
now, he will continue to grow and learn as we all must so we can continue to do
all we can do.
Frequently I see individuals like my friend and neighbor
Bill who have lived marvelous lives and now find themselves unable to do the
things they have so enjoyed over the years. Should they simply stop and let
others take over or should they keep moving forward. The answer to this is to
do what Bill has done. He continually goes to Church, visits with neighbors,
shares his wonderful stories, creates new and exciting electronic gadgets, and
everything else he can do to truly express his love for his wife, his family,
and God.
Words from the bible and the Book of Mormon keep rolling
around in my head. In Matthew, Corinthians, timothy, Hebrews, etc Christ and
the apostles and prophets continually encourage us to stay the course; to never
give up; to endure to the end. Christ tells us in Matthew 10:22, “And ye shall
be hated of all men for my name’s sake; but he that endureth to the end shall
be saved.” What should we do to ensure we are doing all we can do? We know that
man has an incredible ability to forget God and worship the things of the
world. History is replete with tragedy after tragedy in which man, thinking his
plan is supreme to God’s takes matters into his own hands, becomes rich,
arrogant, entangled, intoxicated with the power he esteems himself to possess;
then, falls like a dead leaf in October. Our job is to overcome the desire to
fall away and follow the people in the great and spacious building in
committing war against the Holy Ghost, our Savior Jesus Christ, and God.
I am a slow learner; one of those who take two steps forward
and one back. Hopefully, I won’t get to the point where I take one forward and
two back as I have seen some of my friends do in recent days. I watch with
anguish as wonderful people get caught in the Humanist mode, thinking that they
are immune to the consequences of living outside the bounds which God has set.
I have seen individuals go from loving, caring, kids; to raging junkies,
willing to lie, murder, and steal, for that next fix, that next bit of
excitement, or that next opportunity to play Russian roulette with their very
lives. Most lose badly and the end is never want they wished.
To those who cast of fears of being despised and scorned for
their love of God, I salute you. For those who feel unworthy of God’s love, I
give you my solemn understanding that God is not a respecter of persons; that
his plan of Eternal happiness is marvelous and is for all of us. Little
children, adults, and seniors all are kept carefully his wing. Our job is to
reach out to those in need, listen to the promptings we each have; then act by
helping to bless the lives of others.
God bless each of us as we reach out in love to those less
fortunate.
Duane Jacobs, grandfather, father, brother, uncle, cousin,
and friends
------
Aids in living
October 4, 2014
Physical health is very important. When we are physically
strong we are able to work, play, and generally function in our family and
community. We often diminish our health through neglect and downright willful
disobedience to the promptings and prodding of our friends, loved ones and
medical community. Several years ago I began having serious problems with my
heart, pulmonary system, and blood clotting issues. Many concerned, loving, caring people told me
to get regular physical activity and eat correctly. My mind still remained in
the teenage mode of thinking that youth would always be with me and that I was
generally immortal. Over the years, things kept getting worse and after heart
attacks, blood clots, pulmonary embolisms, and general degeneration of vital
bodily functions. Now, I am not talking about sinister kinds of behavior. I
fully embrace the principles of the Gospel and have, to the best of my ability
followed the admonition to come unto Christ and rid myself of all ungodliness. The
subsequent blessing from following Christ and ridding ourselves of all
ungodliness is the promise that we will, by the Grace of God be perfect in
Christ and deny not his power.
Time and life as it is have enabled me to be provided with a
life-saving tool that just a few years ago was simply an imaginary star wars
toy that might be available someday. A slim metal tool was placed under my skin
and two electric probes run through my vein and “screwed” into my heart lining.
Pace makers have been around for years; however, the defibulator I received
acts as both a pace maker and a three phase defibulator that takes care of my
heart by sending little messages in the form of electrical shocks varying in
degree from tender tickles (more like a hammer to the chest) to an all out
shocking of the heart to return it’s life giving beat.
As grateful for this life saving devise as I am, I can’t
help but look to another tool that has blessed my life from a very early age,
sending messages to my spirit when I was in my, “dumb as a rock” phases. This
tool is available to us all. It is of course, the Holy Ghost. Like the
defribulator, we have to ask for it, then listen to its promptings, or
messages. While I have only had two promptings from my defibulator, I have had
literally thousands from that still small voice that guides, admonishes, and
teaches us to love God, Love our fellow man, and love ourselves. Sometimes I
have been able to listen, understand, and act favorably on these promptings
without undue loss of spirituality. Other times I have had to be given the
highest levels of the charge by the Holy Ghost to return to the Iron Rod; the
Word of God.
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