Before he became an award-winning standup comedian, Frank Castillo was a high school student in Mr. Bob's social science class in Temecula, CA. Instead of ridiculing his substitute teacher, Frank wrote the following poem about the odd sub:

A MAN, HIS GUITAR AND A FAITHFUL VW BUS...OKAY, WELL MAYBE JUST THE FIRST 2

In a time when everything was repetitive.

and there was not more adventure in the world.

People would get up, go to work, eat, and have the occasional old people sex.

There was a calling.

a calling for someone to make and adventure in this adventure less world.

and someone took that call.

unfortunately he didn't want the job so they got the next best guy.

and he was busy too.

so then there was bob.

and his bus.

he is a lone ranger.

traveling the world.

Creating the magic that wasn't there.

Making the last great adventure.

Hitting all the cities in his way never looking back.

The endless roads are his home.

Meeting people and making a difference in their lives.

Spreading the words of wisdom.

Ok well he's still working on the last part.

Sparking the imaginations of the future.

hearing the peoples call, words, lives, dreams.

Inspiring the young. and helping the old.

Paying it up. Just a man and his dreams.

a scholar of the future.

He is a prophet, or a moses without the jesus powers.

Still with a few drinks in him he could walk on water.

Or awkwardly dance it.

He is a socrates of his time.

instead with a guitar and no long beard.

So this is for him.

and his bus.

May he someday run into you.

And change your life.

Because he has changed mine.

I picked up today's guest hitchhiking on a lonely, dark road one night in southern Oregon back in October of 1997. Alwin de Jonge was a 21-year-old from Holland who loved Clint Eastwood movies and was looking for an adventure when fate put him and his thumb on the road for four months. This is the first time we spoke since parting ways in San Francisco 28 years ago, when I offered to let him stay at my place in L.A.—even though I wouldn't be there.

Molly's Philly-raised Uncle Rick moved to Elgin, TX 50 years ago without a plan. Luckily, the man can spin a yarn.