Three Men Dancing

THREE MEN DANCING By DAVID LYNN WINDMON In everything humans do in life the family is the basis for true individual success. Strong family ties, and as is the case in this family a strong and steady maternal presence is the way to family social power. Regardless to sameness of togetherness, the lives of this family are also unfortunately paved with the bones of chance and error. Through the true love and respect of one another, and the togetherness unconditional that love brings, the power manifests itself in the lives of Paul and Amy Jackson. It is also wrung from the source, for the enrichment of the lives of their children, grandchildren, and extended community family. It is said often that it takes a village to raise a child, and in the village the Jackson family lived in (San Francisco, Ca.) many wonderful children stand up to be counted. This is the story of an American Family. Not the average family, but not far from it. It is not my family for sure, maybe not yours either. But in every way this is a family, all the good things and tragic ones along the way included. One familiar, like lots of others, with stratospheric highs, coupled with the sting of harsh, bitter lowness. The four men in the first few lines of the story between them represent the fullness of the life for and within the family Jackson. The story begins on the unforgiving streets of New Orleans Louisiana, with two children who meet inadvertently, quite by accident. They are both in separate children's orphanages as such, and it is just because of the willingness of Paul to work for little money one day that makes that meeting happen. Through the years his willingness to work, both above and below the law makes lots of things come their way. Through his willingness to bend the rules she is spared the last few years of unfulfilled wait kids have in an orphanage. Paul and Amy, both are grandchildren of freed slaves from homes broken by tragedy or tragedy of circumstance. They decide together early on they want to rear a large, loving family. They would for the rest of their lives hold on to the things they used for survival and that made those early years in children's homes feel safe for them. Paul learns fast that a steady willingness to bend the rules holds gallant if risky reward. Amy spends little time with her prostitute mother. But in that time she gets indoctrinated to a voodoo priestess, learning that things unexplained drives forever her life and choices. Moving to San Francisco in 1932 deep depression era America proves a godsend, as they are able to forge a positive, productive life. Eventually they groom ten children to take on all the world has to offer, some with a level of worldly success matched by few. That steady flow of children and with that the bond only a family has gives those children the space within themselves to be the very best they can be. Unfortunately though, space also allows those that want to be, at times far less than their best, through lapses or intent, be that as it may. There is tragedy born flush of such lapses of mind and body; that delicate ballet of the two that separates one's best from one's worst. There is in the lives of the Jackson family tragedy, based on the randomness of another delicate ballet, that of time, space, and opportunity. One of the bright lights of the loins of Paul and Amy didn't make it to the completeness of life that comes with age and wisdom. He was struck down as just a child, and that tragedy only bonded the family, and fused them to the community. That made them all into the massive family so many of them if unknowingly, needed. Another beloved sibling chose the destructive path and abject loneliness of drug abuse, and never made it out of the turbulent 1960's. The children of Paul and Amy also scale the heights of career fields that include Law, Medicine, Music, and professional sports. Subsequent generations have also achieved those and show