I was born in Mobile. My twin brother passed away from pneumonia when we were babies. His name was Elvin, and my name is Eric. I’m living life for both of us. My grandma helped raise me. She was as good as gold.
I moved around with my family and lived in ten cities. I was homeless in California for four years. It was lonely, scary and hard to change. But I got the motor started, moved away and turned my life around. I refuse to lose. I’ve done carpentry, painting and roofing. I’ve worked in restaurants and factories. I’ve worked at Fuego for ten years. I clean tables, but my job is being happy and making our customers and team happy.
I hang with everybody. Some people try to take advantage of you or get what you’ve got because you’re nice. I learned to ignore them.
I’ll be 62 in September, but I don’t act like it. I am cool, calm and collected. I’m enthusiastic, a party animal, and a workaholic. I ride my bike to work and help the homeless with a dollar here and there. I still play football and basketball in the streets with kids. I get up every morning and thank God that I’m alive and can love people another day.