I don’t know about the men in your lives don’t clock out but David is one of those me. Last night didn’t go like a normal night, but honestly, most nights around here don’t anymore. David had already laid down around 7:00 PM because he knew the night was going to get broken up. Most people would have stayed asleep and dealt with whatever came the next day, but that’s not how he is.
Evern though David has to be at work at 3am around 10:05, he got back up with me so we could go pick up Charlie. he stopped and put gas in Charlie’s car and even sent Charlie extra money for gas this week since were not sure if he gets paid this week or not.
I went into 7 Eleven with David and went to get Charlie a drink. David came over to the fountain drinks were I was and asked if I was getting myself a drink. I said no, I was getting Charlie one.
I went into 7 Eleven with David and went to get Charlie a drink. David came over to the fountain drinks were I was and asked if I was getting myself a drink. I said no, I was getting Charlie one.
I went into 7 Eleven with David and went to get Charlie a drink. David came over to the fountain drinks were I was and asked if I was getting myself a drink. I said no, I was getting Charlie one. David said I was going to tell you to get him a drink and get us one we could share. That was fine because we have the 7 Eleven app and can get drinks for 59 cents.
We thought Charlie was getting off around 10:30, but it ended up being closer to midnight before we were back home. By the time we walked back through the door, it was around 12:15 or 12:20 in the morning. David didn’t complain. He just came in, settled for a bit, and then went back down for what was going to be a very short stretch of sleep.
Because at 3:00 AM, he was back up again and headed to work. I didn’t even hear him leave this morning. Then he took the time to call me this morning at 7am and tell me to have a good day and to have Charlie call him when he gets up. And that’s the part that sticks with me when I sit back and think about it.
There are a lot of people who would not run a night like that and still get up and go to work. There are a lot of people who would say “someone else can handle it” or “that’s too much” or “I can’t function on that little sleep.” But he didn’t say any of that. He just did what needed to be done.
Charlie is still not fully comfortable driving on his own yet, and he still has his driver’s license situation to finish up, so David steps in when needed. Not as a big announcement. Not as a debate. Just as part of life. Bradley was off last night, so that meant David was the one who handled it again.
And tonight looks like it may be another one of those nights. Supposedly Charlie gets off at 10:30. I’m hoping that actually holds, because we’ve already learned how “supposed to” doesn’t always match reality. Because David still has to be at work tomorrow at 3am in the morning. And that clock doesn’t move just because the night runs long.
So the cycle just keeps going. What people don’t always see about him is that he doesn’t make these things into a big speech or a complaint. He just does them. He gets tired. He pushes through it. He shows up again the next day anyway.
Tonight, when he gets off work, there are still more things waiting. Two yards to mow. Regular work that doesn’t stop just because the schedule has been rough. And then his mother’s yard still needs to be taken care of too. Because it needs to be done, and his brother Mike isn’t doing it.
So it falls where it falls. And I find myself thinking about that more than I probably say out loud. Because I am proud of him. Not in a loud, look-at-this kind of way. But in a real-life way. The kind you notice when you’re actually living it. He’s tired. He’s stretched. He’s running on very little rest. But he still shows up.
And not just for work. Not just for obligations. But for the people who need him — even when it costs him sleep, energy, or time he doesn’t really have. There aren’t a lot of people built like that anymore. And I see it every day in him.Even when he’s exhausted. Even when the night runs long. Even when everything stacks up at once.
He still doesn’t quit. And that matters more than anything else. If no, one else will say it I’m proud of David and the man he has become and how he takes care of his family and even our friends and our pets as well. I am truly lucky the LORD brought David into my life and I would like to thank him for David.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
