When I'm not in The Fish Tank on the air or working some other
things, I hang out in, "The Closet." And that's literally what it is.
Just outside The Fish studio and right across from it, is my office/studio.
It's where I produce and voice all the commercials you here me on, where I put the
stuff you hear in between the songs together and stuff like that.
But, it's a closet. And I have to say, after 9 years of being in there, I like it.
There's a window with one of Megan's pictures of a fish and a few of the
1000's of hippos I've received over the years from you on the ledge.
Instead of waving or maybe, I don't know, knocking to get my attention?
Frank would BUST into my 7x5 closet and yell something like,
"Big Wave Dave--I've got an idea to throw off ya--come down here!"
And then as quickly as he bolted in-he would leave, and expect me
down the hallway to his KKLA lair.
As I recovered from the trauma of being lamblasted, I would head
his way.
We talked about all kinds of things man. He tried to show me how to
spot my grip for a spit ball a thousand times but I have never mastered it.
He showed me his exclusive "Club" card for MLB, where he can get into
any stadium around the country for any game. Only players and ex-players have
those. The punk. He knew that chaffed me.
One time he was at his cubicle across from the glass wall of Fish control and I sneaked
over and peeked to see him at his desk.
A golden moment.
I rushed over to him and yelled, "FRANK! Whaddya think you're doing!" He jumped
to the ceiling and then I ran for my life as he chased me down the hallway.
When I would need $20 for gas because I left my billfold at home, he would spot me.
He told me he would never need the favor returned because he had his "biker wallet
and chain anchored to his body. And if YOU were a real man, you would have one of
these too."
In March of this year, he asked me for a twenty because he left his "chain" at home.
BELIEVE ME--I gave it to him good and only THEN gave him a few bucks.
He and I went to El Salvador together on a missions trip, we worked Harvest Crusade
broadcasts and had in common the love of God, family, baseball and serving others.
His passion for the poor and disenfranchised is unequalled.
His passion and quest for knowledge and how it intersects with faith is exhausting.
His passion for serving others, lighting up a room and simply being a humble guy is refreshing.
His passion for taking an athiest, ignostic or non-believer and giving them food for thought, is staggering. He could make you go dizzy with information and logic and reason.
He was authentic and could just as easily talk to a crook as he could talk to a CEO.
When I would mock him about shaving the stubble on his head, he would tell me that I could
see it better if I grew about 2 feet.
I asked him one time, after his book, "Shattered-Struck Down But Not Destroyed" was published,
"What's your favorite part in the book?"
He said, "when Jesus met me where I was and I realized He still loved me anyway."
YOWZA!
So many stories about my friend, Frank. I'll have to tell you about when he burst into the
studio one day during a fundraiser. I'll have to share with you his story about holding the record
for chowing down the 72 ounce Steak Dinner in 9 1/2 minutes at The Big Texan. The same
story in the book--but different. Or how one of his locks on his bike jammed and we spent
30 minutes trying to release the doggone thing only to have to cut it. And then he gave me
the invoice for the replacement. How he would slam me into the wall without any warning.
That's how we left each other the night of his accident. He slammed me into the wall and
said, "See ya later Davester".
I guess my slamming him into the wall back is going to have to wait a little while.
He read a poem from the book "Proof Of Heaven". Here's part of it:
"I know how much you love me, as much as I love you. And each time that you think
of me, I know you'll miss me too. But when tomorrow starts without me, Please try
to understand, an angel came and called my name and took me by the hand, it seemed
my place was ready---In Heaven far above, and that I'd have to leave behind, those
things I dearly love."
Here's to Frank. No longer asleep but more alive now than ever before.
I'm going to learn how to throw that spit ball in 2013, man, I promise.................
