Bobby Singer and Jim Beaver: Unsung Heroes

The CW's Supernatural has an unsung hero in Bobby Singer. This teddy bear-like hunter, marvelously portrayed by actor Jim Beaver of Deadwood fame, has been a surrogate father to the two main characters, brothers Sam and Dean Winchester. His gentle aura is appealing, as is his no-nonsense manner. His worn-down home proves to be a safe haven for the brothers. And his place in the story is not as a deus ex machina, as some may think. Bobby Singer runs a salvage yard. And that is what he does.

Old carcasses of vehicles are stacked on top of each other around Bobby Singer's house, which has fallen into disarray. Once posh and comfortable, the building now looks like a neglected bachelor's pad. His wife's death, caused largely by supernatural means, prompted him to delve into the history of the unexplained. Papers cover his desk. Books can be found in almost every corner of the house. Massive quantities of volumes are stacked in his office much like the shells of cars outside. Every abandoned book holds a mystery, and an answer, and he salvages all he can, searching for a way to heal his arching soul.

When the Winchester's father died, the brothers went to see Bobby, where Dean worked on his totaled Impala. A gift from Dean's father, rebuilding the beloved car from the frame up was Dean's symbolic attempt to rebuild himself, and Bobby let him have the time and tools he needed. As tension mounted between the brothers, Bobby was there to patch the rough spots. If they had a question they couldn't answer, he showed up with book in hand, or at least a caring hand to place on a disturbed shoulder. His house was used to save humans who were possessed by demons. And when Sam Winchester was in dire need, not once, but twice, he was protected in Bobby's home, once, admittedly being a near-miss.

Bobby Singer salvages thing. He salvages cars, archaic supernatural studies, and relationships. With the apocalypse in full swing, he is helping to save the world. In the meantime, one can only hope that after his wife's death, he is finding a way to save himself.

Jim Beaver can probably relate to at least some of Bobby's plight. The fifty-nine year old actor has seen a lot in his life, including the quick and devastating loss of his own wife Cecily, a non-smoker, from lung cancer. Beaver learned to pick up the pieces, and salvage what he had. He writes about this painful time in his book, Life's That Way: A Memoir, a collection of nightly emails sent to his family and friends. This heart-felt insight into his wife's deterioration and passing, the trials and celebrations of suddenly becoming a single dad to his small autistic daughter, Maddie, and the death of his father reveals a man caught in his own apocalypse, as his world slowly caves in around him.

Anyone else might have folded. Not Jim Beaver. Rather than hiding behind the pain, he openly shares it with no apologies, bringing life into dark corners, where there seems little to enjoy. This book candidly reveals every morsel of despair, and his attempts to rise above it. It isn't an easy read. It isn't meant to be. In this honest memoir, Beaver's genuine soul and humor not only eases the load when needed, but reminds us what a remarkable man he is, to undergo this trauma and salvage his life. It is also a pointed reminder to reach out to others who need help, and show them they are not alone. Over the course of the year, his words first touched one hundred people, then over four thousand, proving that compassion is indeed the cornerstone of humanity. Now, he finds joy in living, and in his work. Maddie remains his light. He shows that life does indeed go on, and that love is never forgotten.

Caroline Kellogg from The L.A. Times says of this book, "If this is a testament to human survival - which it is - it is also a testament to the power of connection, to what it means to translate emotions and experience into words and send them out into the dark." And Jeffery Zaslow, co-author of The Last Lecture, says, "Despite great sadness, he writes with humor and exhilaration about the gifts found in marriage and the lessons learned through loss."

It is obvious through the Supernatural series that the character, Bobby Singer, salvages things.
And it is obvious that, in life, Jim Beaver does as well.

Life's That Way can be purchased through this link: www.lifesthatway.com. Barnes and Noble also showcases this title in their Discover Great New Writers section.

The new season of Supernatural starts September 10th on the CW. Check your local listings for details.