In our increasingly self-absorbed world, where stopping to help someone in need becomes breaking news, and where we're desensitized by a media cacophony of crime and violence, events that restore our faith in humanity are, if rare, welcome. Such an incident occurred the day Marvin went missing.
You may recall Marvin Ragland's story in the Magnolia News. He's the senior gentleman with a passion for classical music and Mexican food - eating two meals a day at Magnolia's El Ranchon Mexican restaurant, and becoming something of a local celebrity.
An only child with no family left, Marvin lives alone but is far from lonely. The staff at El Ranchon, and others, have become his extended family.
On Thursday, Feb. 21, Marvin had his usual lunch, and that was the last anyone saw of him; he missed all his meals that weekend.
El Ranchon owners Abraham and his brother-in-law, Raul, and the staff were beside themselves with worry. Marvin will be 80 in July, and it's normal to assume the worst when an octogenarian fails to show up.
Janel, wife of server Jorge, sent me an e-mail on Monday, asking if I'd seen or heard from Marvin, hoping I knew of his whereabouts. I didn't.
I called his house, and his answering machine, having reached the end of the tape months ago, simply stated, "End of tape," beeped and was silent.
I drove to his house in Crown Hill; yes, he drives from Crown Hill to Magnolia twice a day to have his Mexican fix. His car was gone, which gave me some hope. I rang the doorbell, just in case - no answer, and no sign of life in the house. I considered peering in a back window, but decided against that since I'm not known in the neighborhood.
I went to El Ranchon to talk to Raul. Officer Jim Campbell from the Seattle PD was having lunch, and Raul said he knew Marvin.
I talked to Officer Campbell and his lunch partner, a detective, and they offered to drive by his house, pointing out that in the absence of a crime or specific problem, they could do little more than peer in the windows as I had done.
I went home and started calling hospitals, hoping on one hand to find Marvin, and fearing the worst on the other. My third call, to Swedish, proved successful.
Yes, that was who I was looking for. "He's in Room 418 at Swedish in Ballard."
My relief was palpable. While we didn't know yet what was wrong, at least we knew he was under medical care.
I called Abraham to tell him Marvin had been found, and then drove to the hospital with every possible scenario playing out in my imagination.
As I walked into 418, Marvin was asleep in the chair next to the bed. I spoke his name softly, and he opened his eyes, slowly at first; then they popped open in surprise.
"How did you find me here?" he asked.
I explained that we'd all been concerned and looking for him, which I think embarrassed him just a little, but also made him feel good.
Marvin explained that he had been walking to the library in Greenwood when he tripped and fell, breaking his hip, and on Friday they gave him a new one made of metal.
He was in good spirits, given the ordeal he'd been through, but that's Marvin. If you get to know him, he's a pragmatic fellow with a long life of experiences, and a great sense of humor.
Marvin has some rehab to get through, but he's a tough little guy, and I'm convinced he'll do just fine.
After the tension of the day faded, I reflected on how everyone at El Ranchon, Officer Campbell, me and perhaps others I wasn't aware of responded to Marvin having gone missing. It was heartening to see so many people turn their attention to finding him.
In the space of one week in Magnolia, we had a benefit dinner at Luigi's Pizza & Pasta for Angel Bowman, who is fighting cancer, and a dozen or more people setting everything aside to help find Marvin.
We tend to get caught up in our fast-paced lives, careers and the world's problems, but when it matters, we still rally around friends and neighbors who need our help.
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