*Thanksgiving 2000 - Super Dave seen here, acting suspicious with a bunch of turkey injector needles...Something made me think of this guy the other day. I don't remember exactly what. So kids, without further nonsense, we dig deep, DEEP into the izzy vault to tell the story of...Super Dave.
I really can't remember how we came across Super Dave. The izzy group was running a once-a-week, improvised homeless shelter in a church building every Thursday night. We'd eat a meal, hang out, play card games, open the shower rooms, set up air mattresses - men in one sunday school room, women in another, etc, etc. I think Dave unpretentiously showed up one night and just started hanging around from then on.
As we all got to know SD and he got to know us, trust and a vague friendship developed. SD was a Viet Nam vet, but not a psycho. He had this great little schtick that made him memorable: whenever he'd start telling a story of little exaggerated importance, he'd get all worked up. And right before the disgruntled climax of his tale or his main point, he'd slowly stand and position himself to leave. Then...BAM. He'd forcefully say the climatic last word then walk off in the other direction. It was hilarious. And he wasn't trying to be funny. That's why it's so funny. It got to where every time we heard him in one of these "moving tales", we'd stick around to watch him position himself to tell the last words. And we'd say, "Watch out. He's on the move".
You had to be there.
He was a honest, trustworthy guy who decided he wanted a chance to get "off" the streets. This is actually pretty rare with homeless guys since they generally choose this lifestyle, or various circumstances keep them there. I guess he had enough of the streets. One of the guys in the izzy group, The Italian, gave Super Dave a shot at a job in the recycling plant he managed. It was great pay for day labor, plus nice benefits (a rarity around here).
Not only did he take the job, but he stuck with it for a good while. I was most impressed with his first few weeks. Like starting most jobs, he didn't get his first pay until the 2nd or 3rd week. And during that time, he lived outside, in the cold, scrounging for food like all homeless. He woke up every morning and rode his bike halfway across town to the job...and got there early. After his first pay he got himself a cheap apartment and set up house. We found him some furniture donated by a family. He was eventually given a 1980 Oldsmobile that ran fine.
After several months Super Dave was awarded employee of the month - an achievement that's not just handed out easily.
Eventually something happened to Super Dave. No one knows exactly what. He stopped showing up for work, etc. I think alcohol might have been involved. Also, many poor & homeless folks can't "receive" success, even when they earned it. There's just some kind of mental block that makes them think, "I don't deserve all this".
Super Dave either quit the job or got fired. He packed up his apartment shortly after and all we heard was that he headed for Fort Walton Beach, FL. He called us once to say he made it, and that's the last we heard of him.
I don't understand everything and I gave up trying. Jesus may heal some people and some may not get healed. Some may rise from the dead and some may not. Some homeless guys may change their lives "for the better" (and that definition can be left wide open) and some may stay in their misery. But I hope Super Dave saw enough of Jesus to know who the CEO is, regardless of SD's residence.
I know Super Dave really enjoyed his time here in the fair mother city. I've always suspected he'd wander back in, just to say hi. Since he's got no way of finding the izzy group (we have no facility anymore), please let me know if you see this guy around - especially you Abilene agents.
He'll be the guy telling the moving tales.
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