An intern’s charming fixation on water

It may be an understatement to say that Mark MacKay, an intern to Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), cares about his co-workers.

So much so, the sandy brown-haired, freckle-faced 25-year-old makes it a point to keep them well-watered at all times.

“You see, the office runs like a stream and has to have a constant flow of water,” MacKay recently explained. “It’s important to keep everyone hydrated so that they can stay focused.”

Yes, that’s right. He volunteers to change the water cooler bottles. He reminds office aides to drink up, providing refills for them without them even having to ask. He himself indulges, and can be seen sprinting down the marble Cannon House Office Building hallway to the men’s room.

And the fun doesn’t stop there.

Apart from water, MacKay likes to spice up his Capitol tours — which can get tedious for anyone — by pointing out statues while doing John Travolta-esque “Saturday Night Fever” dance moves. (I thought it impossible to imagine as well, until he stood up mid-interview and began demonstrating hip swings.)

In a certain respect, it’s difficult to take MacKay seriously — what with his fixation on water and his groovy dance moves. But it’s also impossible not to be charmed by him. He’s warm, friendly, and manages to find the lighter sides of life in a serious-minded congressional office.

MacKay’s love of water was solidified when he worked as general manager of a movie theater in his hometown of Provo, Utah. He said the fountain water there was “cold, not too cold — even people with sensitive teeth liked it.”

MacKay’s future plans are still in the making — he says he would like to do internal communications, meaning that he wants to help employees enjoy where they work. At the moment, he is finishing up his degree in communications at Utah Valley State College by taking courses online.

“You know in eighth grade, when they sit you down and they say, ‘OK, plan your life’? It took me a while to nail down my desires,” he said.

Manning the office water cooler is a task he desires. He cringes at the memory of another intern who once changed the bottle and splashed a woman in the office in the process.

He takes his other intern duties to heart as well.

“Our duties — I like to call them honors — [include] helping staff out, giving tours, sorting the mail and answering the phones,” MacKay said.

Asked to recall any interesting interactions with lawmakers, he replied, “I walked past Ron Paul [R-Texas] and I said, ‘What’s up, Mr. Paul?’ ”

A Mormon, MacKay went to New Jersey for his two-year missionary stint to share the gospel. It was a good experience, he said, recalling a dinner of cow heart he had with a group of Russian women. “You have to mix it up,” he said.

He has also had a chance to show his parents around the Capitol. How does his mother feel about his water-infused ways and disco moves? “My mom just shakes her head and buries her eyes in her hand,” he said.

At the close of the interview, MacKay did what anyone would expect: He offered me a cup of water.