2008-6-27 10:57:00
The age of sixteen was a turning point in my life in many ways. It was at this age that I acquired an interest in spiritual studies, spiritual experiences, writing stories, songs, expanding social skills and checking out various out-of-the-ordinary books that Mormons normally do not read.
It was also this age that I began seriously collecting comics. At that time I was the only one I knew of in Idaho who collected them and actually paid a premium price for old issues. Unfortunately the ones I collected, the ACG group, never became premium collectors items and my friends raided all my old "Superman," "Green Lantern," "Flash," etc., when I was away from home.
As an interesting side note I bought two of the first issues of "The Fantastic Four." I didn't particularly like that comic, but I thought it may turn out to be a collector's item and I was right. They now sell for $40,000 each in good condition. If I still had my old Marvel and DC comics I would be rich. I secured the ACG comics which turned out to not be worth much money today. All the others were raided by my friends or thrown out by my mom who though comics poisoned the mind.
Even though the ACG comics didn't turn into being major collector items they were very valuable to me in that I found the stories very stimulating and they largely inspired my interest in writing.
The ACG Comics were "Adventures Into the Unknown," "Forbidden Worlds," "Unknown Worlds," "Midnight Mystery" and "Herbie." I recently gave my collection to my oldest boy, Joseph, who has shown an interest in collecting comics as well as possibly creating one.
For a long time I had an interest in astronomy and around this age I got a telescope that magnified 240 times and spent many an evening looking at the planets and stars. Again, this was before many had telescopes and they were much more expensive than now. I didn't know another soul in Idaho that had any interest in astronomy. I dreamed of having enough money to build a really big telescope, but was lucky to have one as good as I had.
Yes, around this magical age I developed many interests, but from my early childhood I had a sense that I was supposed to do something important, but didn't know what it was. When I was about six I was wondering what I was supposed to do with my life and when at a movie I heard a man say he was a scientist. The words struck me deeply even though I didn't have a clue what a scientist was. After arriving home I asked my Mom was a scientist was. After she told me I said, "That is what I want to be, a scientist."
My Mom then told me there were many different kinds of scientists, and that I needed to pick one branch. Then after reviewing the various types I decided I wanted to be an astronomer.
Then at the age of 13 when I had my accident and started reading books on rockets, I decided I wanted to become an Astronautical Engineer and eventually replace Warner von Braun and send people to the planets. This seemed more exciting than anything I could do as an astronomer.
Between the ages of 13-16 I studied everything I could find on rocket science and then branched out to other sciences. Then at age 16 I moved beyond physical science and became interested in social science and spiritual science.
My oldest sister, who was the only religious one in the family at the time, was thrilled when she learned I was going to church, and when visiting she gave me a nicely bound set of the scriptures.
She wisely appealed to my interests and said something like this.
"I understand you are interested in astronomy. The Book of Abraham has the story of an ancient astronomer who discovered the secrets of the universe and was shown a vision of creation. I think you would find this interesting."
She did catch my interest and I read the Book of Abraham. It wasn't what I expected, but I did find it interesting and then went on to read other scriptures. It was during this original search that I first contacted my Dweller as well as the Angel of the Presence -- an experience I may write of some day -- but not now. This experience completely changed me around spiritually and started my true spiritual quest for higher knowledge.
When I read the scriptures I was amazed how interesting some of them were, yet how boring church was. It seemed like an amazing contrast to me and I felt like shaking those sleeping souls to get them to awake to what they had in their possession.
Unfortunately, the average church goer is just interested in superficial stuff and making sure he gets a foot into the door of heaven.
From that point on I began to consider that I may be of greatest use to the world as a writer. As a scientist there are a lot of limits on what one can accomplish, but a writer can influence many people, even generations to come. My problem from that time on was find the time study and write as I desired. The second problem was what were the most important things I could write about?
-- End Of Part 7 --
"Your manuscript is both good and original, but the part that is good is not original and the part that is original is not good."
-- Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784), (attributed)
Word of the Day
Coxcomb: Noun: a conceited dandy who is overly impressed by his own accomplishments.
Go To:
Youthful Recollections, Part One
Youthful Recollections, Part Two
Youthful Recollections, Part Three
Youthful Recollections, Part Four
Youthful Recollections, Part Five
Youthful Recollections, Part Six
Youthful Recollections, Part Eight
Copyright © 2008 by JJ Dewey, All Rights Reserved