THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT

The current hassle over the sub-prime mortgage fiasco jogs my memory when I read about people suffering the heartbreak of house foreclosure. My parents went through that scenario in the 1920s.

Although my dad had to leave school after the sixth grade to help support his family, he had the innate skills for building things; so, he built a house!

The house had to built in his spare time so that meant evenings and weekends. My mother was his helper. She often boasted that she got her muscles from carrying the sheet rock (today's dry wall) to form the walls.

My dad finished the walls and we moved in, then tragedy struck in the form of a work layoff. My mother's part time work as a nurse couldn't bring in enough money to pay the mortgage so foreclosure took place and they became renters instead of owners in the same house.

Do you know that the house-that-Jack-built is still standing and happily occupied? Not to long ago dear wife and I drove past the place and children were playing on the front porch. I would love to have gone inside to see how it looked but felt a bit awkward about that so we drove away.

Not long after this loss my dad landed a job as a city fireman and remained on the job for 30 years.
That job stability enabled them to once more move from renter to owner, assuring that they would never again suffer the heartbreak of foreclosure.

This stability taught my parents of the need to be thankful, and to show it in so many ways. I have never know anyone who could match my mother's generosity to those less fortunate than us, and, believe me, in those days suffering surrounded us. Many times I was sen “down the street” with a pot of Irish stew to a neighbor who had lost a job, or where sickness had sent in. Often my dad would use his car to tote a neighbor, or family member, who needed help. There was no debate about whether the need was necessary or not. It was understood that people had needs and we had the means to take care of such. It was a privilege to be a caregiver.


Thankfulness: expressing gratitude (Webster). Our world needs more of this, wouldn't you say?

More, later.