This is a story of Marvin, my late Mother's fisherman friend. The fact that Marvin had lost a leg in an auto accident never stopped him from his love of fishing or from helping others. He had an outgoing personality in spite of the many odd things he would say or do at times. Personal grooming was no big deal to Marvin as it was to others, but he sure knew how to clean and dress a fish. He seemed a little odd to most folks, but had a heart of gold when you really got to know him.
Marvin was a blessing who helped keep my Mother going for several more years when it looked like her life was over because of her many health problems. His outgoing personality and willingness to be a friend made my Mom overlook the fact that he was a little careless in other areas and not like most of the people she had been around. Her small apartment in the retirement center where they were both residents became the place where he would spend his spare time when not fishing. Together they would sing, pray, and share memories of days gone by. He would retire to his own room at night to sleep in his favorite old chair. You could count on Marvin to be knocking on her door bright and early the next morning, just to make sure she was doing alright and see if she was up to going fishing.
Many a day Marvin would come to church with his pants hemmed with fishing line and the smell of fish bait which could be detected 6 seats away. When he shook your hand you might just be pulled over the pew as he shook hands with the same force he might reel in a huge catfish. He was always at least 10 minutes late but never failed to shake hands with most everyone when he entered the Sanctuary, on his own time schedule. His Church family loved him too and he knew he could attend "just as he was" and be welcomed.
With his artificial limb that was not very modern, he could still climb fences to get to any available pond and was willing to help an "antique Grandma" on a walker somehow make it over the fences too.
One night when our Son was small and was sick with a fever, they kept him as we were in a Revival . When we went to pick him up after Church, we noticed he was as pale as "a ghost", and asked him what was wrong. He was rather speechless but then finally told us what was wrong. He had wanted to watch "Night Rider" on television but Marvin wanted to watch something else, probably about fishing. So, Marvin took off his artificial wooden leg and laid it in front of the television set. Needless to say, there were no thoughts of changing channels that night after that! We still get amused when we recall some of the humorous things he would do, without giving a second thought.
Together my Mother and Marvin made quiet a sight when they shared their gravy & biscuit at McDonalds and waited around for more free Sr. Citizen's coffee. Carefully they would split the one biscuit and gravy and you would think they were blessing the 'loaves and fish' as it was always just enough for both of them and for only .99 cents! The other patrons at McDonalds got a mini sermon when the biscuit was broke and blessed.
When his leg would become infected from the old prosthesis he wore, he would take it off and wait for it to heal enough to get back to the ole fishing hole which was his life when he wasn't at Church. He was his own doctor it seemed and would try every natural remedy he had ever heard about. And, it would be a surprise, but they would usually work for him!
Church dinners and family holiday meals always included Marvin. We always enjoyed having him with us as he had no family around to be with. He would always claim a "turkey leg" and ask someone to 'hurry up and bless it" ' so he could enjoy his pick of the "bird", as he would say. He would "pick and remove his favorite piece" before the turkey was ever carved. Holidays were an exciting time for him and he loved a family atmosphere. One Christmas each family member received a big bath towel from the Dollar Store wrapped in colorful paper held together with duct tape. It was one of our best gifts received as he had saved money from his small disability check to get each one of us, "something personal."
We always gave him a small box of gifts at Christmas and especially "fishing lures and tackle". The sparkle in his eyes didn't appear when he would open first his much needed "grooming items or clothes" we would give him , although he was very thankful. However, when he got to the fishing stuff, you could see the gleam in his eyes and hear his loud expressions of" thanks ya'll, ....ya'll just don't know how much I needed this," all through the house. His birthday was also a happy time for Him as we always saw that he received a gift he needed plus of course, more fishing gear.
When Mother became unable to bend down and put her shoes on early each morning, Marvin would come down to her room in the retirement center and put them on for her that she might be able to get out just 'one more day' to go see "if the fish were biting."
When my Mother became unable to walk or get around, she had to enter a Nursing Home as her bones were crumbling and she had other health problems. She had held on as long as she could in being independent with help, and made the final decision which would have been a hard transition without Marvin to help us keep her happy.
Each night Marvin would make his rounds and stay for hours until her bedtime. They would draw pictures, write stories, and he would tell her all about his fishing adventures of the day, many times drawing pictures of fish or other wildlife. Then he would pray for her and leave until the next evening. Although he was several years younger, it made no difference to either as their friendship was from the heart and he had been accepted into her family as a friend.
When Mother passed away 10 years ago this March, we saw "an old fisherman" cry as he sadly walked away from the Hospital after losing his best friend. He had kept saying over and over that she wasn't going to die; but the Good Lord knew it was her appointment on that beautiful Sunday Morning, her going home day. No one looked sadder than Marvin at the Funeral and all thoughts of fishing seemed to disappear from his life for the time being as he said his last farewell to her.
Marvin moved on shortly after she passed away, and no one seems to know exactly where he is now; but we believe he went to a town where a relative resides.
Not too long ago I found a song they had sung together along with another old gentleman who recently passed away called, "This World is Not My Home, I'm Only Passing Through." Though the song was off key and the old guitar was not quiet in tune, it still had a beautiful sound which I know must have pleased the Lord too when they sang it with their whole heart. Just like them, we too are only passing through. May we be a friend to all and look for the good in each one that comes from the heart, not from the outer appearance or maybe one's different ways.
One day I know we will see them again, and they may just be sitting around that 'River of Life' near Heaven's Harbor. I'm sure Marvin is planning on fish being in heaven, and of course they will both have brand new perfect legs to walk around the streets of gold in heaven!
As that message said, "thank you Lord for old fishermen!"
The Lord surely does look at the heart and not as man looks. 1 Samuel 16-7b.
Blessings,
© Jo Ann Kelly
