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In Memoriam
Karl McLellan, better known as Max, was a daily visitor to the library for most of my time here in Whistler. Of all “our gentlemen,” Max was the one we most enjoyed; we worried about him when he was sick and we missed him when he was away. He came to the old trailers, and he was here on Opening Day of the new library.
Max was one of the patrons that I received regular complaints about – he fell asleep and sometimes snored; he carried with him a personal scent that varied between slight and overpowering. He loved to watch movies on the library’s viewing station, but in recent months he began to fall asleep with the headphones on, visibly drunk.
The last time I saw Max I had to escort him out of the library because he was too drunk to walk. He apologized over and over, embarrassed by his state and his behaviour. A few days later, he left a note for “Laure, Claire, Beverly, Jennifer, Susanne, Susannea, Nadine & the other nice libarins that I don’t really know,” from “The Great Outdoors.” In it, he apologized again and said that he was ashamed of himself and that we would “take a break from Injoying your wonderful place.” He said he was sorry for the misspellings and that he wrote the note while listening to Frank Sinatra (probably a CD from the library). He said he would miss us all.
Max was found dead on the porch of the old museum, behind the library, last Friday morning. I have tears in my eyes as I write this. I have used this column to express my frustration with objectionable behaviours in the library, which have admittedly gotten worse over the last several months, but I always liked seeing Max. He was never belligerent or violent, or even resistant. He was a truly sweet, gentle man with a terrible addiction that he was unable to kick.
Alcoholism is a tragic, fatal disease. It takes people to places they never thought they would go. Max, only in his 50s, chose to live rough in a difficult climate because Whistler was home for him. He died as he lived, in the Great Outdoors. I will miss him.
Lauren Stara, Library Director