Time Quote by Marya Hornbacher
““Uncle Joe used to spend a fair amount of time in the loony bin. My family wasn't bothered by his regular trips to and from 'the facility'--they'd shrug and say, There goes Joe , and they'd put him in the car and take him in. One day Uncle Frank...was driving Uncle Joe to the crazy place. When they got there, Joe asked Frank to drop him off at the door while Frank went and parked the car. Frank didn't think much of it, and dropped him off. Joe went inside, smiled at the nurse, and said, 'Hi. I'm Frank Hornbacher. I'm here to drop off Joe. He likes to park the car, so I let him do that. He'll be right in.' The nurses nodded knowingly. The real Frank walked in. The nurse took his arm and guided him away, murmuring the way nurses always do, while Frank hollered in protest, insisting that he was Frank, not Joe. Joe, quite pleased with himself, gave Frank a wave and left.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Center Cannot Hold, Marya Hornbacher, 2003
A story about mistaken identity in a mental health facility, highlighting how people can be misidentified and the absurdity that can arise from bureaucratic processes.
In simple terms: People can be confused and misidentified in institutions.
Key Takeaway
Beware of assumptions and verify identities.
Themes
identity
mental health
bureaucracy
miscommunication
humor
Mood
wry
thoughtful
critical
Type
anecdotal
humorous
cautionary
When to use this quote
- hospital visits
- family caregiving
- patient intake
- identity verification
Key Concepts
mistaken identity
institutional absurdity
family dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we ensure accurate identification in care settings?
- What responsibilities do families have to protect vulnerable members?
A Different Perspective
The anecdote may oversimplify serious mental health issues and could be seen as trivializing them.
