A Man Named Dave

but I know that it made him see that he never wanted that to happen to anybody else. During the times I have watched him help people, I decided that when I become an adult and have children, I will try to be as good a father as my dad.
    One of my first memories of my dad was when he was in the air force and was sent off to the “war in the Gulf” the day of my fourth birthday. I don’t exactly know what was going on, but when he returned, I remember going to the base and seeing the SR-71 Blackbird land right before his plane landed. It was such a happy feeling to finally see my father again.
    Now when I see him, my eyes light up. He has taught me great manners, morals, and so many other things that they can’t all be named. I hope that someday I can somehow make it up to him. I really and truly love my dad. He is a very great father and person. So, I guess what I am trying to say is that my father will always be in my heart.
     

Marsha Pelzer
    Wife and executive director
     
    This man named Dave, where do I begin? There’s so much to say about him. There is so much I feel for him. He’s a man of virtue, an individual of countless accomplishments, and has a heart of gold. A man so dedicated, energetic, and adorably wholesome. Yet he’s the most haunted person I know, constantly swimming upstream. What I admire most about him is he’s the most genuine of souls and gives his all to everything he does. Whether he’s working in his garden perfecting his impatiens, or living his life of “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” while performing programs back-to-back, Dave gives it his all. When writing a letter to uplift the defeated spirit of a young fan, or driving over eight hours on weekends to see his son play baseball, Dave gives every ounce of himself. While giving a soul-stirring interview on TV, or holding me at night as we drift off to sleep, Dave never holds back. In everything he does, Dave willingly offers his heart and soul. He maps out every detail, predicts every scenario, and handles everything gracefully. He does because he is. No ulterior motives. No disguises. Nothing is expected in return. To give it his all with every fiber of his being is for Dave to be Dave. Nothing else will do.
    Dave has a gift – and a curse, for that matter – of making things look effortless. The passerby sees Dave ease into his daily routine of traveling, speaking, writing, and being a loving father and husband. They interpret his life as exciting, enterprising, and predestined. People feed off Dave’s energy and outlook, and some expect him to solve their problems with his magic wand. His label as a New York Times best-selling author usually implies an overnight success and the lap of luxury lifestyle. But only a small handful knows how grueling, disturbing, belittling, and erratic Dave’s life truly can be. How his sacrifices are far greater than the rewards. And only those behind the scenes of his world can understand the consequences of his struggles. Dave’s life is indicative of the fact that you can’t have roses without thorns. And he welcomes both without reservation. So why does he do it? Where does he muster up the fortitude? How does he sustain the dedication to what he considers responsibility? To relive his horrific past every day in his quest to help others, and do it with such passion, humor, and honesty? As close as I am to the fire, I don’t completely know. Sharing a life with him, inside and outside of his heart, I catch glimpses of what inspires him. I can tell you that the indebtedness he has for those who saved his life and the compassion he has for helping others is his cause, while the love he has for Stephen and me fuels the fire. He most certainly is a man on a mission. Dave is Batman, Indiana Jones, and James Bond all rolled into one. Like these characters, Dave possesses a dark side, a haunted past, a life on the run, only to expose the light; and he will do whatever it takes to bring peace to a dying world.
    Dave is such an admirable human being. I know and understand him more than anyone who’s ever been honored to know him, and I consider myself blessed because of it. But it’s so difficult to know of the sacrifices required – past and present – just to be Dave Pelzer. God love ’im, he’s been through so much and has always been the “bigger person” in spite of the wrong done to him. Concerning Dave’s mother and father, his distorted nine-year marriage, the deceptions from his former speaking