10 May

See What You Did: Connie’s Air Conditioner is In And Working

by Jon Katz
See What You Did

As soon as Red’s ultrasound test was finished, I knew we all had to get over to the Mansion and bring Connie’s air conditioner and let the residents see that Red was all right, some of them were getting upset. The air conditioner was heavy, we got it into the car and drover to the Mansion.

I could see that Connie was a bit nervous, her room was about to get turned upside down again. It was humid and warm in her room, a good day for her new Honeywell Floor Air Conditioner, purchased with your donations, and thank you. The first thing Connie did was to show us some of the beautiful and wonderful letters she has been receiving.

She reads each one carefully and keeps them right next to her chair. Connie has been  unable to work in the warmer weather, she is, as she put it, “sidelined.” When the new Honeywell, set to 72 degrees, she will be back at work knitting shortly. The baskets of beautiful  yarn sent to her are arrayed in a ring all around her chair.

Maria and I are going back to her room in a day or so to help her get organized and clear out some of the things she doesn’t need or want and has little room for. It is, life in a room. The painting that Marilyn Brooks donated to her room is hanging on the wall on the right, Connie loves it.

Kevin, the operations manager at the Mansion, hooked up the Honeywell (it is the top rated portable air conditioner by Consumer Reports) and was extremely sensitive and thoughtful about dealing with her and asking her where she wanted things to go. He is a competent and warm-hearted man.

I was delighted that Red does not have cancer, but this great act of generosity from so many people touched my heart and brought great hope to my soul. The Army of Good is gaining in strength and purpose. We do not argue about what is good, we simply do good. There is nothing much for the left or the right to say.

The nastier the outside world gets, the stronger we are, the more good we are doing.

The new printer is up and running, I’ll put up a photo in a day or so. This is one of the best things I have been associated with, and I hope I have conveyed in words the bigness of the deed. Connie cannot work in the heat, she does not have enough oxygen or energy.

She will be able to work now, and resume the knitting of her beautiful mittens, caps, scarves and sweaters. If you wish, you can write her c/o The Mansion, 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.  She treasures every one of your letters.

You can write the other residents of the Mansion as well: Bruce, Allan, Sylvie, Jean, John Z, Tim, Ben, John R, Alanna, Peggie, Reggie, Ellen, Joan, Brenda, Connie, Alice, Madeline, Mary, Barbara, William, Brother Peter, Diane, Helen, Jane, Dottie, Anita, Richard, Gerry, Charlotte, Arthur, George.

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