Marcellus
10.25.05 (9:37 am) [edit]When I first started taking care of Marcellus he was 88 years old, still physically strong, with a mind of his own, and he was always ready to let you know just what was on it. He had a well organized mind, though I don’t think he was all that intelligent. He had everything thought out, organized, and could stand up for himself, and would, no matter who that person happened to be, and I don’t think he really cared if you agreed with him or not; he just loved to argue.
Over all I enjoyed him, since I could butt heads with him on a regular basis, something we both seemed to enjoy. I remember one incident that happened in 1989. It was in the middle of winter, about 30 degrees out side, so it was a cold day in Georgia. I walked in his room and saw something truly unique in how it was presented to me. He had his heat on, the fan running, and his air conditioning window unit, running full blast. He was sitting in the middle of the room, looking very comfortable and content. As soon as I walked in he looked at me, and said in no uncertain terms for me to leave everything alone, since he had the room exactly the way he wanted it. Hmmmmmm I thought, no harm being done, best to leave this one alone and save my energy for the real battles that sometimes needed to be played out, for his own safety and well being. So I said, fine, no problem, would not want to upset his eco-system, that he spent so much time perfecting.
I was on my way out, when he mentioned that he would like for me to take the front off the floor fan, since it stopped 30% of the air flow. I was a little stunned by this revelation, so I asked him were he got this information? He informed me that he figured it out on his own, and if I would please be kind enough to take the front off for him. I told him “no”, because being in his 90”s, he could easily fall on the fan, or get his bath robe stuck in the blades; in other words it was dangerous. He looked at me and said “God help us”, one of his favorite sayings, and I informed him to please not bring God into this; this was between him and me. He said ok, we will see. I left the room knowing this was not the end of the discussion, it never was between us. Like I said however, I really did enjoy him, and I think he enjoyed the sparring, not only with me, but with everybody; my head just happened to be as hard as his, hence the ongoing relationship.
The next morning, as I was beginning my shift, I checked in on Marcellus to find the fan running, air conditioning and heat on; just one difference, the front of the fan was off. He
said the it was none of my business about the fan, so please just leave it alone. I said fine, I won’t make it my business, at least about trying to talk to him. So I picked up the fan and walked out of the room, with him following me yelling for me to put the fan back. Knowing that this was the only way for me, I continued on down the hall, with some people looking out of the rooms at me, some were laughing since they knew about our on going dialogue about how things should be done.
He would not talk to me for three days, which was not really all that easy, but I held out. Finally on the third day he asked that I please return the fan. That was my cue to sit down and have a talk with him. We had a lot over the years, and I knew when he would listen to me. So we spent about 30 minutes going over my duties, how I was responsible for his safety, and how I could not allow an uncovered floor fan in his room. He tried to argue with me over the 30% flow problem, but I told him that even if it were true (don’t know if it is, but doubt it), I could still not allow it in his room. So he agreed, and I brought the fan in, and he did not remove the cover anymore. I left and took two Excedrin, and felt better in no time.
Since I really cared for him, and though it was at times humorous what went on, at least for those who worked with me; it was not always easy to be firm with him…. but I had to be, for his own safety. He seemed to know this, because once I did not come to work for three days, and when I returned he started crying, thinking I was mad at him and would not work with him anymore. So we had another talk, me saying that in spite of his being so stubborn, I really did like working with him, and not to worry about it. After that I always let him know when I would be away for a few days.
He is another one that I miss, colorful, strong in his own way, blunt, truthful, and he did his best, at least in my opinion. There was hardly an ounce of passive aggression in him, something that I really liked, and appreciated, better to know where you stand, the dance is easier that way.
Peace
Mitch