That’s not a spelling error. That’s the way he wants his name spelled.

     Tr3y is quite a character, and a delight to know. With a sense of humor that is infectious, when we first met he informed us that he is “the world’s tallest midget,” and told us his beard “hides a whole lot of ugly.” Every time we see him we are entertained by his wit, smile, and upbeat attitude, even though life has not been terribly kind to him.

     Tr3y says he was “not much good with education,” but what he has gained through experience is more than enough to fill a thick book. He was married, bought a house, and for a while was happy. They had their own plastering business, and while never wealthy, they managed. Unfortunately, his wife died 13 years ago, and nothing has been the same since.

     He “has kept God busy” all these years; he says God has saved his life so many times he knows there is some reason for it. He has survived falls from scaffolding, being stabbed, and being shot.

     He was shot in the stomach at a keg party when he was only 17, and “still carries the lead” in his chest. The shooting occurred after he “looked at another guy’s girlfriend;” the guy did not take kindly to that and pulled a gun.

     Also when he was younger he wrecked a motorcycle, flipping end-over-end four times and losing 26 teeth. He said his jaw “was hanging on his chest” when he woke up!

     Tr3y now suffers from PTSD, most likely brought on by the worst of his many accidents: when he and a friend were leaving a convenience store, he was hit by a runaway car, shattering his left shoulder, collapsing both lungs, and doing brain damage (he was in a coma for a while).

     Now he has violent nightmares 3-4 times a week, has problems with his temper, and is in counseling. He suffers with severe shoulder pain, and needs a shoulder replacement. He says his doctor prescribed Oxycodine for the pain, but he won’t take it because he has heard it can have bad side effects and possibly be addicting. Since he already attends a substance abuse recovery group at Haywood Street Church, he doesn’t want to take a chance with such medications.

     Tr3y camped in the woods for many years, and was recently arrested for trespassing. He said this time he was camping beside the Interstate. After he asked for a public defender his case was postponed, then later dismissed.

     While camping, he got food “all around” — Ingle’s has good pizza and subs, and he ate lots of Vienna sausages. He did not have a camp stove, so he was grateful to be able to eat at churches like Haywood when he could.

     Recently he met Melanie, whose husband died five years ago. They became fast friends, and for several weeks they camped together in the woods off Tunnel Road. Just last week, on July 10th, they moved into their new apartment!

     We have a feeling this story is one “to be continued!”