'MAD MAX'

by Jason Walters

Mercury Rising #6, April - July 1992

This issue we take time out to pay our last respects to Mad Max, a longtime member of San Francisco’s messenging community. Although many of youprobably have mixed feelings about him, he too has his place in our hallof fame; Max defaced more elevators with his unmistakable emblem than anyonein history. Next time you get on an elevator and see his name carved intothe metal inspection plate (or if you see the now deceased Swooner’s name,for that matter), ponder the following thoughts:

Max was a nice, healthy, and well-intentioned guy who liked shootingup with heroin. He always seemed cheerful and upbeat, and I remember himorganizing a couple of Russian River Rides in the late 80's. After a whileMax liked shooting up more than being healthy or holding a job his yearsof being a partying messenger turned into a single, blurry land scape inwhich he could not distinguish the party from his life. He dropped out,lost his girlfriend, ended up a street person, and eventually died of anoverdose in a shitty room above the Covered Wagon Saloon. This paragraphis probably the only obituary poor Max is ever going to get.

I think a lot of messengers could take a hint from Mad Max’s untimelydeath. After a certain point, the party has to stop (a least for a littlewhile). There’s a difference between being an addict and having a goodtime. If we all think about this fact when we see Max’s name in the elevatorat 333 Broadway, maybe there wouldn't be any more drug obituaries in MercuryRising. Dig?

If you have comments or suggestions, email me at messvilleto@yahoo.com