Marilyn directs it all from her bed, queen bee of a bustling hive. Unless she's feeling tired or sicker than usual, she relishes the activity. The only frustration, she says, is that with so many people in the house, there's inevitable confusion. Files are mislaid, the portable telephone disappears, no one can find Marilyn's favorite herb seasoning. Everybody's moving things and putting things away and each person puts things where they think they should be.
Massage is an indispensable part of the day.
Marilyn is carried from her bed to the table, usually by one of her sons. She weighs just 90 pounds. Treatments last as long as two hours. Marilyn knows her body and its pains. She requests specific muscles to be worked on, sometimes even reaching around to demonstrate the proper stroke.