THE MAN WHO LIVED IN A TRASH BAG

I was in Bakersfield on a business trip this past December. It was 45 degrees outside. I was walking from my warm hotel room to a Denny's to grab a late dinner. As I made my way to the restaurant I had to walk underneath a Freeway overpass.

To my amazement I saw at least 20 people sleeping underneath the cold, loud, and dangerous concrete jungle. I looked up and saw shopping carts, sleeping bags, and a tent made from trash bags: those thick black ones.

I stopped in my tracks. I stood there for a few seconds contemplating what I should do next. Do I keep walking? Do I stop and give one of them a few bucks? What do I do?

I decided to climb up the steep incline and approach the man sleeping inside the trash bag. I know, that was dangerous. But at the time I didn't care. I forgot about my surroundings, focusing in only on the poor person sleeping in the trash bag. I pulled on one of the trash bags to get his attention. After a few seconds, the man poked his head out. Laying next to him was a German Shepherd dog. They both looked cold and hungry.

"WHAT?" he said to me. I asked him his name. "My name is Dave Lopez," he said. He looked confused. I asked him if he was cold or hungry. He answered "yes" to both. I told him him that I was on my way to grab a bite to eat. I invited him to come along. He obliged.

We walked to Denny's in silence. His dog, Bomber walked alongside us, with no leash. It felt awkward walking in silence. To break the awkwardness I asked him why he was sleeping in trash bags. He told me that he was an Iraq War veteran struggling with PTSD and bipolar disorder. He had been arrested for trying to steal a car and with a felony on his record, getting a job during Covid-19 was real hard. His wife left him and with no other family, his only choice was the streets. The shelters were usually full with women and children, so the men were often relegated to sleeping outside in the cold.

As we sat inside Denny's eating, I asked him more questions about his bipolar disorder. I couldn't believe that someone who fought for our country and suffering from a mental illness would be left to freeze underneath a busy freeway.

He told me after he came back from Iraq that he was diagnosed with PTSD and bipolar disorder. He was given therapy and a few prescriptions of antidepressants at a local VA hospital and told to come back in 30 days when his prescription ran out. It was during those 30 days that he was arrested. He was subsequently charged and convicted of a felony. He never returned to the VA because he couldn't. He had no transportation. He told me he tried calling the hospital but they told him they couldn't give him a ride. He had to find his own way there.

So with no meds, no job, and no family he found himself on the streets of Bakersfield. After our dinner I walked him back to his tent made of plastic. I gave him daps and told him I would return with a surprise in a few minutes.

I went back to my hotel and grabbed a bright yellow blanket I had in the trunk of my car. I went back and gave it to Dave. He thanked me over and over again. He said to me, "Man I really appreciate the dinner. And I really thank you for just listening to my story."

I made a friend that night in December. I met someone struggling with the same mental illness as me. Ya, I'm bipolar too. But I'm thankful I have the loving support of my family and friends. That night in Bakersfield reinforced that feeling.

Oh, I almost forgot the best part of the story. The following night as I went to gas up my car for the long drive back to Irvine, I ran into my friend Dave. I gave him daps one last time. I noticed the blanket I had given him was on his dog Bomber. I asked him why he wasn't using the blanket to keep himself warm. He said to me something that will stick with me forever. "My dog was cold, so I let him have it."

The compassion this man had for his dog brought tears to my eyes, literally.

Note: Dave Lopez is a 38 year old war veteran. He did two tours in Iraq. He suffers from PTSD and bipolar disorder. He is homeless.