About One-Legged Pete

Now, I recently stayed in a psychiatric unit for a few days. I've done this before, when I was in worse sanity, but this time I was partly waiting for my pain medicine to re-fill(in a place where I couldn't drink,) and partly just sick of isolation and panic problems. But I was in a decent space to observe people, and is usual, I met some really worthwhile people.

This particular psychiatric unit included a number of people who lived there, most of whom had lived in institutions for a long time. Conditions for such people vary here in Oregon, but they're sometimes comfortable and excellent, and weren't at all bad here(living conditions are better than those for the average American, except for the considerable noise and problems caused by some other residents.) The man I'm going to discuss lived in the place and had for some time.

He was a one-legged man seemingly in his late twenties or early thirties who I'll call Pete. He had close-cut red hair and a clean-shaven face that didn't speak of much intellectualism, but was pleasant and not that care-worn. Before I got cigarettes, he volunteered his very last cigarette for me, in a casual sort of way.

Later, when I was the one giving out the cigarettes, we talked a bit. As his face promised, he was friendly and pleasant. Early on, he said a couple things that seemed so nonsensical I thought he might have been completely out-to-lunch or "jerking my chain."

But he got a lot more rational. He talked about a poster he had of a Flying Tiger fighter jet, and listened when I explained who the flying tigers were(a group of mercenary U.S. pilots who flew for China against Japan in early WW2.) He had a fascination with the movie "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," and mentioned that one of his fellow residents had been in the movie(which was quite plausible considering that it was filmed in The Oregon State Hospital where this place got most of its residents from.) He commented that his experiences in institutions weren't much like that, said that he'd never been restrained. Sometimes, he said, he wished they'd restrain him, said it might be good for his mental health, for everybody's mental health. Like many mentally ill people(recognized and not,) he was a fervent Christian of sorts.

But those comments probably reflected his past and not his present; Many mentally ill people who live "in the system" can be somewhat fast-talking and manipulative(for whatever reason.) I perceived just a hint of this(I'm rather cynical about most people,) but he didn't turn out to be that sort. He did like to talk more than listen, but he did both sincerely, and we had some pleasant talks.

We hit on the subject of Pac-Man, a video game we both liked a lot; He seemed to wish he had a game console. I was glad he brought it up, because it gave me the idea of playing it on the computer. Probably like him, I have trouble finding suitable recreation and outlets for my abilities(I'm also on psychological disability.)

Other subjects that came up were Phil Collins whom he liked, and the fact that he found it hard to get around, but this last was a subject he mentioned only once and in passing(he seemed to be ashamed of any self-pity.) This subject came up because of Phil Collins who had lyrics about a guy who ?"couldn't walk but still tried"? He often quoted song lyrics.

Actually, considering that he had one leg, Pete got around well and seemed in good health. Anyway, that's all for today; I hope you enjoyed hearing about Pete.