A Short History of a Needless Death

"TEMPLE -- Daniel (Danny) A. Temple, 38, a resident of Albuquerque, passed away on Monday, May 28, 2007."

Danny, Perry, and Tony. I used to hang out with all three of them. We would play music together. Tony was a talented drummer even at 12 years old. He introduced me to the harder forms of music, when in the hot New Mexico summers, he would bring his boom box over and undulate to Kiss in our front yard on 55th street. Later, he would croon, "I've done my share of working out-a. I wan ta go some place where I can scream and shout…" singing to the metal guitars of Judas Priest, in their song "Hot Rockin."

Though I hung out with Louis and Sam a lot and Kenny lived a few doors down, even as a child felt that Tony, Danny, and Perry were much more fragile souls because of their lack of a strong family structure. It surprised me for a long time that my neighbor, Lois, Tony's mom, smoked "weed" and drank alcohol all the time, some of her most strenuous advice to Tony, "Don't you touch my 'weed!'" And I was never jealous of the permissiveness of Perry's and Danny's mothers, who loved their sons, but let them do almost anything they wanted to do.

Danny, Tony and I would meander around town some summers. We ended up hanging out at "Wild West Music" during most of one summer vacation, playing most of their instruments over and over. I still don't know why the music store didn't kick us out, but we were glad. It was a place to hang out, play music, and be with friends.

Perry lived in a big blue and white house on a hill. Both Tony and Danny were being raised by their mother. Perry had two parents and a very nerdy older brother. I now know that his older brother had some mental challenges. The marriage afforded Perry some luxuries from his permissive and distant parents. When entering his house, it felt like a castle to Tony, Danny and I who lived in 800 sq. foot houses. These days The house Perry lived in would be considered a medium sized house, probably less than 2000 sq feet. He lost it all when his parents, too, divorced. It happened to be around the time Tony, Perry and Danny started high school. That's when it all started to break down.

I was already sophomore when the three became freshmen. They had only just begun high school when the allure of friends with drugs sucked them into another world of parties, marijuana, alcohol, and other drugs. I stopped hanging around with them. As a 15 year old boy that was a difficult decision to make, because by then there was a whole posse of friends related to Tony, Danny, and Perry. When I stopped hanging out with them, I was alone – but I was determined not to get involved in drugs.

Two things made Tony different. The first is that he aspired to music and joined extra curricular activities at school, such as marching band (in which he didn't last long), and jazz band (where he excelled until he threw a drum stick at Mr. Hallet and got suspended). The second thing, and most important, is that Tony had a fledgling belief in God, and held back from many extremes because of his inchoate beliefs. In the ensuing years, he has given credit to his tentative introduction to God, for his being on this side of the grave, not 6 feet under.

The drugs won.

I went to Perry's memorial a few years ago. He didn't make to 30, dying at 29 years old of multiple organ failure. His body, frail since childhood, could take no more abuse.

Almost three years ago, Lois, Tony's mother died for similar reasons.

Today, over a month after the fact, I received a call from Ashley, my brother, telling me that Danny is dead – again for similar reasons.

I remember, in one of the rare times that I hung out with Perry by himself, he spent a long time working to convince me, through logic – the only thing that he know would appeal to me – that it was important that I try marijuana. He let me know that I didn't have to even try it but once, and that my experience would help me understand others.

Had it not been for strong parenting, growing up with boundaries, and especially a absolute conviction that it was morally wrong, Perry would have convinced me! And I have always known, deep down, that my physiological and psychological makeup would scarcely have allowed me to escape, had I started down that path.

The conviction that saved me, turned out to be my calling by Jesus Christ. As it turns out, He is alive. Christianity is true. God saved my life.

If you are headed down a path that you learned in high school, if you think that there is no way out, it is not true. God saved me from many troubles, and an early death like Perry, Danny, and Lois, and he can save you too. Let go and heed the calling. Ask Him to save you and show Himself to you. He will.

Start down a different path today.

"Danny was born January 13, 1969, the son of Edmund Ted and Ruth Marlene Meade Temple in Redwood City, California. He had worked as an installer in the Interior Decorating business. Danny was an avid fisherman, and loved watching sports. Danny was preceded in death by two half brothers, Tom and Les Temple. He is survived by his mother, Ruth M. Houston and husband, William of Albuquerque; his father, Edmund Temple; one sister, Jill Temple of California. Danny had many friends and will be sorely missed by many people. It has been suggested that memorial contributions be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society, c/o Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Church, 5415 Fortuna Rd. NW Albuquerque, NM 87105. A Memorial Service for Danny will be held on Saturday, June 2, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Daniels Family Funeral Services, 4310 Sara Rd., Rio Rancho. Arrangements by Daniels Family Funeral Services 4310 Sara Rd. Rio Rancho, New Mexico 892-9920"

Though I had not seen him in many years, I will miss him.