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Impossible as it may seem, this sad story would turn to a glad one — the answer to these
multiple choices of wrong answers would soon become — “none of the above!”

Two years after his release, a 17 year-old teen, ‘Joy’, invited Bobby to a Youth for Christ
service on December 8, 1962. He was hesitant, but went. At the end of his rope, he cried out
to God for help. He made a promise that night to abstain from alcohol — a promise that he
kept for the next 24 years. Full of "happiness" and longing to get his life on track “Happy”
began attending church, Bible studies and prayer meetings. Excited about a fresh beginning,
he memorized over 60 Bible verses that first year. He became an officer in the boys'
brigade, president of the men's Bible class, and salesman of the year over 66 drivers at the
dairy where he worked for 12 years. But his proudest achievement of all was to become the
loving father of three beautiful young children, and his one and only grandson, Jordon.

Having developed a photographic memory Happy also became a North American Bridge
Master in Duplicate Bridge, and eventually travelled to five continents, ten countries and
countless cities throughout the world, in his later years, sharing his faith in Christ,
and his sobriety.

After 26 years of continuous sobriety in 1986, having lapsed again into his old habits, for
four years, Happy admitted himself to his very first treatment centre for addicts and
alcoholics on August 10, 1990.

"Happiness is found in unlocking a troubled mind, and God alone has the key.”
- Happy Ness

"The best thing that ever happened to me, apart from fatherhood and my new life in Christ,
was going to this treatment centre in California," Happy says. "For the first time in my life I
learned how to grieve and heal the hurts from my childhood." Not only had Happy learned to
forgive and forget, the years of bitterness and hatred were now permanently dissolved, and
for the first time, he came to love himself!

While there he wrote three letters. Two letters were to his abusers (his father and the child
molester). The third letter he dated April 4, 1935, the day he was born, and included the time,
two hours before his mom died. It was a retroactive letter of love to his beloved mother that
said, "You are always on my mind!"— Yes — “You are always on my mind!” Healings and
peace flooded into his broken life moments later. "Now, when I die,” he says, beaming,
“I'm not looking for the undertaker to bury me, but for the Upper-Taker to carry me home!"
Happy still has leaving on his mind — not through suicide, now, but to leave in love,
peace, and happiness.

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