I lived with no regrets

Jackson's Gulch is a small town with a population of approximately 1,200.  Twenty years ago, everyone who lived in Jackson's Gulch could easily find work at the paper mill.

The town used to boast a population of 20,000 until the owner, Ezra Davis, sold the mill,

and it was relocated to a town 10,000 miles away. 

Ezra Davis was a quiet man, who preferred spending most of his time with the person he loved the most, himself.  He was a man ridiculed all of his life for deformities he had suffered during birth.  He had three toes on each foot, and, as a result, had to walk with a severe limp.  Most people called him 'Hopalong.'  He was the only child of a wealthy cattleman, and the heir to Davis Paper Mill.

Ezra's father was the founder of the mill.  He was a burly man, who could pick up the back end of a truck.  He spent most of his life working on a one-thousand acre cattle farm in Jackson's Gulch, which left him with an enormous fortune.  However, his true passion was forestry.  He knew the names of every tree from here to the Pacific Ocean.  He was self taught, and wanted to go to school to learn forestry, but couldn't since he had to stay and tend to the fields.  Instead, he founded Davis Paper Mill shortly after his father passed away.  Davis Paper Mill used to make a profit of over 250 million dollars per month.  An outstanding citizen, he ensured everyone in Jackson's Gulch had a job and food on the table.  He was also a great philanthropist.  He started a homeless shelter and an orphanage in Jackson's Gulch.

Ezra's mother was an alcoholic, and felt that being married meant being tied down.  That was

until she met Ezra's father, who she fell desperately in love with.  Ezra's mother was hired

on as kitchen help by Ezra's grandmother.  About two months from first meeting, Ezra's

parents were married in a small, brown Assembly of God church. 

Ezra's parents wanted desperately to have children.  After many years of trying, his parents

finally had him.  His father was sixty years old and his mother was forty when he was born.

On his dying bed at the age of seventy, Ezra's father gave him the deed to the paper mill. 

Shortly after the funeral, Ezra's mother abandoned him.

Ezra was sent to live with his aunt and uncle.  His aunt mainly kept to herself.  His uncle

was a former boxer and professional wrestler.  "You have to be willing to fight for everything

in order to keep it.  Everyone wants to take the belt!" yelled Ezra's uncle.  This remained

etched in Ezra's mind.  For the rest of his life, Ezra backstabbed and abused people to get

what he wanted. 

Ezra was a man as mean as the alligators he skinned.  Of course, this was just a hobby.

His true passion was working on the family cattle ranch.  Most people in the town hated

Ezra for selling the mill.  Most people had to leave to find new employment, with the only

exception being those who could not afford to relocate.

Being hated did not seem to bother Ezra.  He would laugh at citizens as he rode into town.

As he smiled, you could see his upper lips and teeth.  His upper lip was severely swollen

from the many years he chewed tobacco.  His teeth were stained black from the tar.  He

would ride into town every week to get much needed grocery items and to see his lovely

girlfriend, Anna.

Anna was as beautiful as a setting sun.  With hair as red as fire which sat perched upon her

broad, almost man-like shoulders, and skin as soft as silk, every man in Jackson's Gulch longed to marry her.  However, her heart belonged to Ezra.  She was a pharmacist, who put herself through school by working on Ezra's neighbor's potato shed. 

Noone understood the relationship between Ezra and Anna.  They often wondered what a kind hearted lady like Anna found attractive in a man like Ezra, not to mention the fact that Ezra was ten years her senior.

Every week Anna and Ezra would go to the neighborhood park to watch the ducks and eat

lunch.  Anna would always prepare nutritious and delicious meals for Ezra.  Almost every time Anna saw Ezra, she would ask him to reconsider opening the mill.  "I have no desire, I don't enjoy forestry like my father did!"  he would reply.  Anna would always laugh, a most angelic laugh, and talk about something else.  Anna never stopped praying for Ezra.

Today was different.  Ezra seemed almost depressed as he talked to Anna.  "What's bothering you, my love?" she pondered.  "I've considered what you said, and believe it would be best to do something to help these people I've harmed." he replied.  "What made you come to that conclusion?" she asked.  "Last night, I had a dream that my father came back to life.  I walked beside him, and we went into the mill.  The mill was dank and musty, with many rats and snakes crawling about.  As he looked upon the machinery, which hadn't worked in many years, my father began to sob.  Immediately afterwards, we went to the orphanage, where a child lay starving to death, crying out for its mother.  This child quickly turned into a pile of dust and blew away.  Immediately after that, we went to the soup kitchen, where many homeless people were lining up.  For the first time ever, the soup kitchen turned away everyone who was hungry.  Then my father looked at me and expressed how disappointed he was in me to allow this to happen.  Immediately, my father ascended into the clouds, and I woke up." Ezra retorted.

"You've hurt many people Ezra, but I still love you!" remarked Anna.  "Now, are you willing to

work to rebuild this town and the mill?" she asked.

"Yes, I will rebuild this town and the mill, and once our city flourishes, I will ask you to marry

me," he replied.

That day, after Anna got off work, they went to the site where the mill used to be.  The mill had long been demolished, and was a barren lot where people parked farm machinery.  Anna and Ezra climbed upon a combine and looked out upon the barren land.  "Isn't it beautiful?" sighed Anna.

From there, they went to the site where the orphanage used to be.  The site had become a

western clothing store, which sold hunting and fishing equipment, gasoline, western clothing,

saddles, and tractor parts.  They walked inside, and almost immediately, a beautiful young

lady, about the age of twenty, with hair as golden as the sun, and skin as smooth as ivory,

asked in a most angelic voice, "May I help you?"  "No thanks," replied Anna, "we're just

reminiscing." 

From there, they went to the site where the soup kitchen used to be.  The soup kitchen

was in a part of town where few dared to go.  There were frequent reports of armed robbery,

vandalism, and grand theft auto.  What was once the most beautiful and scenic part of town

was now a breeding ground for vagrants.

Immediately, Ezra started to cry.  "How could I let myself become so egotistical?" he

quandered.  "This town was so beautiful and peaceful, and now it's a complete dump," he

added.  "It's OK," remarked Anna.  "You cannot change the past, but from here on, you

can make the future worth living," she resounded.

Ezra and Anna went to the town hall, and tried to get permits to rebuild the soup kitchen,

orphanage, and mill.  As soon as Ezra walked into the town hall, the mayor flagged him down.

The mayor used to be Ezra's best friend.  Now the mayor could not stand Ezra after what he

did to the town.  "What can I do for you, Ezra?" replied the mayor, almost sheepishly.

"We would like to pull permits to rebuild the mill," Ezra replied.  "Why do you want to do that, so you can destroy the town again?" snorted the mayor.  "No, he really would like to see the town flourish again," Anna retorted.  Since the mayor had a crush on Anna, he decided to request the permits himself in order to speed up the process.

After many weeks of waiting and anticipation, the city finally allowed the rebuild to begin.

Ezra hired the best architects, engineers, and construction crew he could find.

After many months of design and construction, the mill was completed.  "Now we can

flourish once again," Ezra stated.  Ezra asked that advertisements be put in the

classifieds and hired a group to start hiring laborers.  For months, people did not

respond.  "Why aren't they responding to the advertisements?" Ezra asked.  "After what's

happened, I'm sure they feel that you could sell the company out from under them again

in an instant," Anna replied.  "I know what I must do," said Ezra.

Ezra went to a local television station and asked reporters to interview him.  A local

anchor, who was heavy set and smoked like a chimney, agreed to do so.  Ezra sipped

nervously from a water bottle as the interview began.  "I'm here with Ezra Davis, former

and new director of Davis Paper Mill. Mr. Davis, please tell me, why did you decide to

rebuild the mill?" asked the anchor.  Ezra told him the dream that he had, and replied,

"I'm truly sorry for what I've done.  I've decided to turn a new leaf, and want to hire anyone

who's willing to work," Ezra remarked.  "There you have it, folks, Ezra Davis," the anchor

uttered.

Slowly, people began to apply.  People came from all across the state to work at the paper

mill.  Slowly the town began to grow larger than it was before.  Ezra pulled permits for the

orphanage and soup kitchen.

"How could this happen?" Ezra asked Anna.  "I've never stopped praying, I continue to pray

for this town and, especially, for you," Anna replied.  "I love you!" Ezra proclaimed. 

The town miraculously changed.  What was once a town of 1200 souls crying out for a second chance became a city of 30,000 happy citizens.

Ezra and Anna were married in the same small, brown Assembly of God church that Ezra's

parents were married in.  Anna and Ezra had a beautiful seven pound son they named Elijah.

Ezra became very sick from unknown causes when Elijah was ten years old.  In his death,

Ezra bequeathed the paper mill, soup kitchen, and orphanage, just as Ezra's father had the

first one.  Ezra died on a Tuesday morning shortly before Elijah's eleventh birthday. 

Right after passing, Ezra was encountered once again by his father.  Ezra's father hugged

him, and said, "I am so proud of you.  Thank you for reviving this town, and

once again making it prosperous," Ezra's father said.  "I couldn't have done it without you,"

Ezra replied.

Ezra's funeral was held on a Friday.  The whole town was at his funeral.  The mayor stood up

and said, "For so many years, Ezra was a bitter man, a man whose heart was as calloused

as his hands.  He did not care about anyone but himself, and he destroyed this town.  However, he is proof that people can change.  With perseverant prayer, it seems like just about anyone can change.  As a result of his change of heart, this town has once again become vibrant, and full of life.  While visiting Ezra shortly before he died, I asked him what he wanted people to say about him.  He simply asked that we remember that he had no regrets.  So, I'm here to say that Ezra was a man with no regrets.  He dearly loved his wife, Anna, and his son, Elijah, and I know he's smiling from beyond the grave."

On Ezra's tombstone lay these lasting words: 'I lived with no regrets.'