Danny and the Driftwood Fort

Meet Danny. I did, on my first afternoon residing in Coos Bay. Elmer and I were walking the bay beach near the Empire Boat Ramp, six blocks from our home, when the meeting occurred. Danny is homeless and lives in a driftwood fort (pictured here). He was born and raised in Coos Bay and graduated from Marshfield High School in 1979. He’s 65. His fort is protected by a stuffed dragon he discovered in a garbage can. Danny said no stuffed animal should ever be thrown away. I agree.

Danny became homeless only recently. He was caring for his uncle who suffers partial dementia. The uncle kicked Danny out for some unknown reason (drinking was involved). He was broke. No, he didn’t know of any places in the area that might provide temporary shelter (there is no such place unless you convert to Christianity). No, he didn’t have any friends who could put him up. Danny was extremely confident that he wouldn’t remain homeless very long. This was his first time.

I gave him five bucks. He thanked me and said he was going to buy a beer, maybe two.

Danny said someone left behind a jar of coconut oil in the fort. (What?) He used it to fry up eggs when he could afford them after scrounging up a few bucks collecting cans. More people should cook with coconut oil said Danny. A pair of tennis shoes washed up ashore. They fit him!

And finally, Danny said he had sort of become friends with an otter who lived in a creek a hundred yards away. He liked watching the otter at dawn and dusk race out to the beach and dig for clams.

I wanted to see that, too!