Sinbad's Smile and an Empty Taco Bell

We first met Sinbad back in mid October 2011. Because I didn't know his name yet, my field notes record him as having no teeth and wearing a swamy hat. That trademark hat, combined with several large hoop earrings, gave him an exotic air. When we finally learned his name it made sense: Sinbad.

The next time we saw him it was Halloween day and Sinbad was rummaging around the patio at the abandoned Taco Bell building on Florin Road. A banged up couch slouched strategically on the north side of the patio away from the brutal Sacramento sun. This couch probably served as his bed at night, but it's placement likely made for some good people watching by day.  When we approached, Sinbad stood up and mumbled something about "trying to keep the place clean." In that moment, it became clear that this was his spot and he took pride in it. We had just entered his home.

The abandoned Taco Bell building on Florin Road.
Some time in late November the police removed
his couch and other belongings. The building remains vacant.

By mid-November we still didn't know his name but we again saw Sinbad at the abandoned Taco Bell building. The days were sunny but the nights were getting pretty cold; I wondered how he stayed warm and dry. I did not, however, ask. There's a code of conduct on the street, and some things are just better left unspoken.

The day after Thanksgiving 2011 dawned cold and clear. We made special Thanksgiving meals for all the guys -- turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy with a side roll and plastic fork. It wasn't much but the way the guys dug into it, you know they were hungry.

We found Sinbad on Stockton and 65th with a shopping cart in tow this time. He told us he had been ejected from his home at the Taco Bell. He also told us his name that day. He seemed very sad, and it was only later that we learned he had lived at the Taco Bell for seven years before the police removed him.

Another month passed before we saw Sinbad again, this time on Christmas morning. He seemed genuinely happy to see us and gave a little bow with his hands clasped in front of his face like people in India often do. When he received the bag lunch from us he said "I was needing some breakfast." We said "Merry Christmas." His swamy hat had been replaced with a beanie, probably to hold back the cold winter nights.

Sinbad (left) and his shopping cart (behind him)
on Florin Road, across from the  abandoned Taco Bell
building where he lived for seven years.

Since Christmas we have seen Sinbad three more times. He is always happy to see us and smiles brightly, although he has no teeth in the front of his mouth. It's because of his toothlessness that I stopped packing lunches with apples. They are too hard to bite for guys with no teeth. Now it's apple sauce, tangerines or raisins in with the sandwich.

Sometimes Sinbad limps. David thinks he is in his 60s; I think he's probably in his early 50s. Clearly he's been on the streets for a long time. Yesterday when we told him we were trying to get a little propane stove for him to cook on, he lit up exclaiming "I could use that!" We have the stove and a couple of propane canisters, now it's a trip to the thrift store to get a pot for him.

I can't wait to see his face when he gets them.