Chapter 13: A Light On My Path

Page 29

The grand mal seizures were a problem for dad getting jobs at most

nightclubs. But even worse was his sense of wanting the freedom to work where he wanted to, when he wanted. The 1940’s to 1950’s were a time of increasing union activity in the musician field in Minneapolis. It eventually became him refusing mostly union jobs because he refused to join the union.

The influence of my father was not just his love; it was also his sense that we should be able to make it on our own in life. Wow, that from a guy that suffered grand mal seizures. My dad and mom never let their disabilities stand in the way of the progress they sought to make. I admired that. I too

have learned that to press on in life will ease our pain. I have also found out that getting into God’s presence can wipe the pain away. Focus your mind on your tasks in life and on God; then your pain will not be so noticeable.

In stark contrast to my father, Jackie’s father was a union man all the

days of his life. As a manual laborer, I have to admit, the union probably helped him from being taken advantage of by the big company he worked for. We always had some interesting discussions in the family since we grew up with this contrast between belief in unions and disbelief in unions.

First grade was spent in Seward Elementary School close to the bar my mother and father owned. I remember being taken out of school for an hour each day as our class marched up to a local church to learn about God.

I do not recall any specific teaching other than God exists. Therefore, I can tell you spending an hour a day with God in school certainly didn’t hurt me. I understand that many will disagree after reading this book. Back in the mid 1950’s, God was a part of our public education system. I suspect that is

why a seven year old could shine shoes outside of a bar in those days. Since our public education exposed all of us to morality, we were a moral people. Now, you can wind up in jail teaching morality to children. Who has won the battle to influence your kid’s mind in the public education system?

Somewhere around the age of 11, I stole a Christmas tree on the night before Christmas. My father made me take it back immediately that same night. The tree lot owner gave it to us anyway since it was the night before

Christmas and he felt sorry for our poor family. I never forgot that theft mainly because of the way it hurt my father. Of course, I got caught because