Barleycorn is not his last name, something I’ve forgotten. The designation comes from John Barleycorn a fictional character who personifies alcohol, especially beer and whisky. He first appeared in British and American folklore around 1620. The character is often referred to as Sir John Barleycorn. 

Sir Dave came to our little piece of paradise because he was a degenerate drunk on the run from American justice. To give some context The American Medical Association (AMA) classified alcoholism as a disease in 1956 and included addiction as a disease in 1987. In 2011 the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) joined the AMA, defining addiction as a chronic brain disorder, not a behavior problem, or just the result of making bad choices.

Sir Dave had multiple DUIs, some resulting in his leaving the scene of an accident caused by him and resulting in jail time, the last an eight year prison sentence. His lastest hit and run while drunk seemed a harbinger of past to come so he took it on the run to Mexico.

Sir Dave by all accounts was an accomplished tradesman and he was able to use his skills to obtain work while in Mexico. That notwithstanding, his appetite for grog and meth exceeded his meager earnings. Additionally Sir Dave, in one of his fits, sought to cause harm to a neighbor, which got him an invitation to leave his abode.

When his situation was discussed with acquaintances, I mentioned that his days were number and eventually Johnny Law would put their hands on him and he’d be forced back to face US justice. The acquaintance, who by all accounts is middle age and unemployed with a hobby of drinking and snorting illegal substances, could not understand why anyone would want Sir Dave removed from society.

My response to this is, people can’t run from themselves. Everything that Sir Dave did in the US would be done in Mexico, the result could easily be death and destruction because you can reliably predict the future with recent, relevant past behavior. As it turned out Sir Dave backed into his friends car and flipped his quad one night after some reverie.

Sadly I too have been under the spell of spirits and behaved badly. While not facing criminal issues or causing damage to property, there has been long lasting effects which I regret. Im pretty sure neither Jonas Salk nor Nikola Tesla spent wasted days from hangovers that interfered with life changing work.

An interesting thing about drunks. They like to be in the company of other drunks. Sir Dave frequented spirit houses, (cantinas) where his generally amenable disposition put him in contact with others of his lot which put them in a codependent position with Sir Dave because his income was spotty and infrequent and therefore put him in a position to run a tab with friends.

Sir Dave found lodging with someone who was not so understanding of his frequent insolvency and when he couldn’t pay the rent, the inevitable demand to vacate came, though because of an arrearage, his belongings were retained, including his work truck and his quad.

Friends long tired of his putting the bite on them deserted him and he wound up like many dispossessed from the US as a homeless vagabond. You can see these guys at the corner OXXO, (Circle K) begging, selling stolen items, or usually washing your windshield with a greasy rag that left it worse then before. Recently US fugitives wanted for much more heinous crimes were arrested at OXXOs and returned to the US.

Today when my friend Jose came by to make sure I was still alive, I was and usually am, related to me that Sir Dave had met his demise. As the story went, Sir Dave had taken up windshield washing at a sports bar down the street. As it happens the bar, according to Jose, is located next to a hangout for sicarios. His words not mine and I expect his story was peppered with hyperbole.

I any case, Sir Dave is gone as happens with so many like him. It is rumored that he was stealing, which is what people with no visible means of support do, and removed from society.

There is a mass grave nearby filled with unfortunate souls as is all to frequent in Mexico. Is Sir Dave now a resident there? Rumor.

Sir Dave’s story is not unique. Many try to reinvent themselves simply by running from their past and present. It’s seem not to work because no matter where you go, there you are. I shall not have a toast to Sir Dave.