*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.
The family & I were at Obi-Wan's house on Wednesday night two weeks ago. We were saying bye and on our way out when I caught the beginning of some crime-type drama show on the TV. I was hooked. I tell Agent Wife to take the baby on home. "I'll be home in 10 minutes", I said. Yea, right. I was there for like, another hour.
Me...the anti-TV guy...got hoodwinked into the wasteland vortex I mock and criticize often. The opening of this show, "Criminal Minds" on CBS, had all of the typical trappings for a drama's opening segment. Yet, very modern with completely new writing angles, as well as quality digital production work that shows I watched 10 years ago didn't have. I was fascinated.
OK, I admit the truth: TV for me is like giving an alcoholic a drink. I could watch it all day and never do anything with my life. Which is roughly why I choose not to own a TV. I'd never leave the house.
And I'm a huge sucker for any type of murder mystery. Which is why I love Criminal Minds and have now (as of 9pm) seen 3 episodes. It appeals to my fascination of agents. The show is about an FBI profiler unit. They track down highly intelligent serial killers by examining evidence and creating an accurate profile of the murderer. It has all the stereotypical characters: the lead guy (who reminds me of The Bossman), the 2nd banana, the token hot chick, the token black guy, and the feisty quick witted computer chick at home base. Then there's the unique character: an 18-20 soft-spoken homely boy prodigy with a 187 IQ. He's cool. So far these have been great shows.
So anyway...for the last three Wednesdays I've been a fixture at Obi-Wan's from 8-9p. He doesn't mind the company. I can't say that it's quality time together, but we get that the rest of the time.
I can't believe I just wrote a post about a TV show. What have I degenerated to? I don't have a problem. I'm not in denial.
Ezekiel 16:49-50 - Sodom & Gomorrah "...were arrogant, overfed, and unconcerned: they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen"
Sodom and Gomorrah are infamous for their sexual perversions and heavenly destruction. It is assumed that they were destroyed because of their sexual sins. But I guess the above obscure passage says otherwise...
The fair mother city can be a real cheap-ass town at times.
I suppose I have yet to give proper introduction to the homeland. A quick historical reference:
Abilene was founded in 1881. After 1875 many settlements in west Texas were created when the local Comanches were sentenced to hell (Oklahoma) due to their food & clothing source (buffalo) being slaughtered to extinction for white man's profit. The (then) Taylor County seat of Buffalo Gap, TX heard news that the Texas & Pacific Railroad was being built through the area connecting Ft. Worth with El Paso. So they rejoiced and sat on their asses assuming the train would come through town. Meanwhile, cattle ranchers who owned a field 12 miles north secretly met with and successfully bribed a rail road executive, persuading him to build through their vacant field. A town quickly sprang up in this field when the tracks were built...bringing commerce and good times. The unoriginal name Abilene was granted in honor of Abilene, Kansas (and mentioned somewhere in the CEO's handbook). She grew fast and won the coveted county seat title. Thus...the mother city was founded on trickery, bribes and deceit.
Like a lot of people in those days, the founders of Abilene were into secret societies (masons, etc). That kind of ritualistic, religious spirit ushered in the church people and their church culture, which could permeate most areas of citizenry like commerce, social outings, government, etc.
Then the pillars of higher education was established. Not a state-run school either. The mother city has not one, not two, but THREE private, christian-run universities. The Baptists have Hardin-Simmons. The Methodists have McMurry. And the church of Christ (coc) has Abilene Christian University, making the mother city the Mecca of the coc world. You should see the town's population bulge during ACU's Lectureship week every February. I've nicknamed that week Ramadan.
The cost of living is much lower here than larger cities, but so is the average income. I have never done a study on this, but I truly suspect religious church culture somehow goes hand in hand with low, suck-ass wages. Keepin' the man down. Just a conspiracy theory of mine, of course.
The average pay around here for most anyone is between $7 and $8 an hour with no benefits. Trust me...I KNOW. We're talking like...$16k a year before taxes. I've worked many of these jobs since 1994. As a college grad, I could go to Dallas and make $32k/year without even trying. Maybe $40k/year.
The mother city is divided by the east/west railroad tracks it was founded on. Traditionally, the north side of the city is the older section (and thus the "poor" side) while the southern half is the newer section (rich side). I'd argue that the poor section begins at S 14th and heads north to I-20 and up into Impact. And of course there's exceptions to everything...as there are several nice neighborhoods sprinkled throughout.
Because of lackluster city counsel decisions of past generations, there has never been a strict building code/appearance restrictions. Thus the north side is chock full of dilapidated buildings, homes, and sluggish economy. The far south end by the Winters freeway and Buffalo Gap Rd is where the new economy grows. It has all the mega commerce, shopping malls, nice neighborhoods, etc. I call it "Little Dallas".
I'm sure the mother city has the same or similar wealth/poverty statistics as any other US city. But being hunkered down within the poverty culture like I have for about 8 years, I'd have to assume Abilene has more folks in poverty than average.
I love the mother city. And I love the poor people that dwell within it. I love the north side neighborhoods, old cruddy houses with asbestos siding, and kids playing in the dry creek beds that flood these neighborhoods once every few years.
I don't see the fair mother city receiving the same doom as her sisters Sodom and Gomorrah. She can be fairly "arrogant" in an educationally religious sense. And the fair mother city is DEFINITELY "overfed" (she's a fat-ass town too - everybody goes out to eat...a LOT). But I don't know about "unconcerned". A fair amount of people do something for the poor. This can be noticed with a local ministry's "Mission Thanksgiving" yearly drive, as well as the numerous outlets for the needy
And besides...it's hard to be unconcerned about a large segment of a city's population. There are a LOT of poor folks around here.
The izzy group got so destitute that we asked Pastor Bill if we could come back and set up our ministry at the motherchurch (our former host church). He must have let us as we were in their new building. Pastor Bill wouldn't allow me to store the izzy photos and memorabilia in the building, but I hid them anyway...under the stage where he preaches on Sundays.
Going through the monthly whinings again. It's no big deal. I'm used to it by now. Just give me one day a month to get it all out and I'll be good to go tomorrow.
Whining about...income (lack of), does the izzy group really exist anymore and do I care, do I need to go start a career with my limited skills, etc.
I've read about the Israelites wandering through the desert over and over. I've read about how they whined and kept forgetting what the CEO did for them down the road. I don't want to be like them.
This time of my life is a golden opportunity for serious education in faith. And I want to pass with an A+.
Tonight the family & I engaged in something that use to be a significant part of my life...almost an every day occurance...worship.
I dusted off the old 10 caliber and went at it...almost rusty and all. Have to force myself to play. Two very new songs came from nowhere.
Agent Offspring, who has heard me play probably all of 5 times in AO's total exsitence on this earth, picked up toy drumsticks and started playing along. Then opened some music book that plays songs. Then started singing non-stop.
#1 - Obi-Wan & I were driving in an old car around a big city (like Houston or Dallas). Obi-Wan was behind the wheel and we almost wrecked by turning off an exit ramp too fast. This was due to his diminishing driving skills because of his age. He pulled over and insisted that I drive from then on.
#2 - Someone gave Momo a big Peterbuilt 18-wheeler truck rig (no trailer). I asked him if he needed help selling it so he could buy more practical things for his life. He said, "Hell no. This thing will last me 10 years. I can sleep, travel, and earn a living in it". I guess Momo knows what's best for him better than I would.
If secret agents in the fair mother city had a unofficial public meeting place it would be The Leaf.
The mother city's premier and only cigar bar, The Leaf is a gathering of college-aged cynics, crotchety old retired business men, and everyone in between. It carries a wide variety of cigars ranging from $1-$36 a piece (I think). And as of a year ago, The Leaf is now a full service coffee bar (woo-hoo!).
An old college buddy of mine (who I'll refer to as the mother city's most eligible bachelor) owns the joint and started it back around '98 or '99. The Leaf is just his 'toy' business, as his real bread-n-butter involves a business that builds auto AC compressors. The Bachelor was once part of a coc mega-church...and don't think they didn't give him hell for creating a cigar shop. Before the coffee idea, he had plans to turn it into a high-end beer-on-tap joint (something the mother city STILL lacks). I think he nixed those plans out of respect for his mother's wishes.
They once hosted live music where I've played many a gig with the 10 caliber. I loved it. Five minutes before the gig I'd walk in...10 shooter on my back...and these cigar chomping patrons would slowly gaze in my direction with a glaze of imperfection. The look from their stogey-dangling faces muttered, "...what the hell's THIS guy gonna do?" Then I'd start playing and as the old adage goes, music DOES sooth the savage jack-ass. They welcomed me with open arms ever since. This is a far cry from the disneyland-esque receptivity from the family-friendly coffee shops that rule local night life. Unfortunately, the ASCAP goons have been harassing the Leaf's management so the music is on pause.
The Bachelor use to support the izzy group via proceeds from a certain product in his store. I love it. The only corporate sponsor we ever had was a tobacco shop. This came through after some big name non-prof in town "refused to take my dirty cigar money" to which I reply, "WE'LL take your dirty cigar money".
This morning, Pastor Hawking & I gathered with around the main table with two hanger-ons to discuss a dream/venture I have that I've yet to discuss here. Maybe later. We also just tried to get to know each other better. Pastor Hawking smokes a real cigar. But if I'm gonna smoke anything, I prefer Nat Sherman's "Black and Gold" cigarettes. They're comparable to a quality cigar but with the commitment equivalence of a one night stand. Not that I approve or partake of half-assed commitments or anything. I just enjoy being finished with a tobacco product in less than 5 minutes if I so choose. My body can't handle some of the serious cigars offered there.
The Bossman recently spent an evening at The Leaf. I believe his new found observation was something like, "The Leaf is a place Christians can go and not get judged".
May that realness spill into the rest of the mother city.
The Handy Boy gig is nil for the time being. I finished a job yesterday and there is currently no work lined up. So I had the day off.
The family & I went walking with Obi-Wan and his wheels. It was a nice sunny day with a slight breeze. We invited him to the back yard, a place he's never been.
He finally saw that my garden and pecan tree was not fiction. Agent Wife made us tea and we sat under the shade of the pecan tree.
"This is just a great day. A really good day", Obi-Wan kept saying. I think he was really enjoying himself.
I've always thought of wheelchairs as some kind of ball-n-chain. Who would have known they could be that liberating.
As an undercover operative for the CEO of the universe, I am strategically embedded within the poverty culture of Abilene, TX (the fair mother city). This blog contains my reports, discoveries, observations, and confessions. My identity must remain concealed due to passages in The Book under Matt. 6:1-4. The names on this blog have been changed to protect the guilty.
*Thanksgiving 2000 - Super Dave seen here, acting suspicious with a bunch of turkey injector needles...
