Day: November 8, 2017

Joan is one of my favorite people at the Mansion. And one of my favorite portrait subjects.

Some day I’d love to do a Joan show and she thinks it’s a great idea, she loves to have her photo taken. Joan has  severe memory problems, she does recall the death of her daughter, who was murdered when she was very young.

Often, when I am in the Mansion, Joan will come up to me and ask for help in remembering where her room is, she takes my arm and we walk down the stairs and down the hallway on the ground floor and I open the door and she thanks me and goes in.

She often has reveries, but she paints beautiful pictures sometimes, and writes very beautiful poems. She surprised me when she told told me in my poetry workshop that when people age, they remember what they must remember, and forget what they don’t need to remember. She told me getting older is about today, there are  yesterdays but no tomorrows to worry about.

Joan’s room is spare – little on the bed, nothing on the walls. This is because she believes she is going home every day and packs up all of her things. The staff unpacks what she needs, and she forgets about going  home and walks the halls of the Mansion, where everyone knows her and keeps an eye out for her.

There is always something to guide her to her room.

I gave her a fair number of things to hang on the wall before I figured out that she was packing them all, so the walls are bare.

I sometimes find her in the Great Room, and the thing about Joan is that she always has a smile and she is always ready to laugh. We often tell mumbo-jumbo jokes to one another and we both laugh, neither of us could follow the joke but the idea is funny to both of us.

Today, several of the residents got all dressed up for winter and went out onto the porch to sit down. When I came out with Red and the camera, Joan said she had some funny faces to show me, and she did have some funny faces, I knew few people who laugh more easily than Joan.

When I say goodbye, I often get a hug and a kiss. I made a face back at her and we both had a good laugh. She said she would take my picture one day.

It is getting colder, but the sun is warm and bright in the afternoons. We went to the Mansion just after lunch and Ellen was sitting out in a rocking chair by herself, all bunched up in her parka and hood. She loves Red,and she called to him and he went to her.

I don’t know how Red can handle all the need for him there, and all the love he gives out and all the attention he pays to people, he seems to never tire or waver in this work. Ellen leaned over and kissed him on the forehead.

I asked her how she was and she said she had been feeling poorly lately and came out into the sun because she hoped it would make her feel better. Red stayed close to her for five or ten minutes, and then she said goodbye, and she knew everyone inside would be waiting to see him.

I think Red gave some real comfort out on the porch.

We had to take Flo to the vet today, she has been coughing and wheezing and had a runny nose this morning. Two strikes and we go to the vet. They aren’t sure what the trouble is, but we’ll try some antibiotics and see if it clears up. It’s going to be very cold on Friday and it might be time for her to come inside the farmhouse and sit by the fire.

Flo lived secretly in the woodshed when we first came  here, and then revealed herself to Maria during a storm, and then seduced me into letting her into the house when it’s cold. She is sweet and murderous, and we take good care of her – regular shots and check-ups and some food when she needs it.

If it doesn’t clear up, then X-rays in a week or so.

We went to Connie’s room – she is not at the Mansion now – and saw that her new chair had been delivered. Red and I came into the room and Red jumped up into the chair, something I had not seen him do before. It’s a neat chair, simple and functional I believe Connie will find it comfortable when and if she returns to the Mansion.

Red is very close to Connie, and always goes directly to her room. She has never seen or used the chair, so I don’t really know why Red jumped up, he is trained to never go on furniture without permission.

I bought the chair from Bennington Furniture in Vermont, it cost $799, but the store gave us a $100 discount. The chair is a Guardsman Cornflower Lift Chair, and I wanted you to see what your donations bought, as I always try to do. There was a $39 delivery charge and $54.39 in sales tax, plus a five year plan guaranteeing the fabric and the machinery that runs the lift. The total was $831.39.

The chair didn’t arrive in time for Connie. She was taken to Samaritan Hospital in Troy, N.Y. on Friday, and on Tuesday, she was transferred to the Wesley Rehabilitation Cetnter, 131 Lawrence Street, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 12886.  It is not clear how long she will be there, or if she will be able to return to the Mansion.

She does wish to receive letters and message.

Everyone at the Mansion was asking after Connie and hoping she returns soon and gets well.

They are holding her room for her until all of that is clear.

Federal regulations require that residents of a Medicaid assisted care facility be mobile and require a minimum of medical care. All of the furniture/air conditioners/equipment that I purchase to the Mansion is given to the Mansion, not the residents.This is so  it can be used and re-used if a resident leaves, gets sick, or dies.

Connie is strong and determined, she has beaten the odds before. She might very well get back, the Mansion is where she wants to be.

Today, agreed, with your assistance, to support two activities for the Mansion. One is an outing to the Hubbard Hall Christmas Breakfast held on December 9. I bought eight tickets for $96. I’m going along to help.

I also told Julie Smith, the activities director there, that I would fund the hiring of an Irish band in March for St. Patrick’s Day. It will cost between $200 and $300. I  am also asking, if it is possible, that the Army Of Good send Christmas decorations, favors, gifts, wreaths or other Christmas messages for the Mansion’s annual Christmas Party.

Our hope is that every resident has something for them under the tree, as happened last year, a celebration that shocked and delighted the residents and staff.  The gifts convinced the residents that there were people out there who cared about them.

Everyone is still talking about it. You can send your Christmas gifts to The Mansion, 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

Your letters, photos and messages are perhaps the most important gifts you give. I have a new and updated list of the Mansion residents who wish to receive your letters, messages and photographs:

Robert, Allan, Sylvie, Jean, John Z., Tim, Ben, Arthur, Alanna, Peggie, Ellen, Joan, Brenda, Jane, Connie, Alice, Madeline, Mary, Barbara, Bill, John K, Diane, Helen, Winnie, Jean, Dorothy, Ruth, Kenneth, Gerry, Guerda.

We’ve had three hard frosts this week, Friday’s high temperature is supposed to be 29 degrees, and the grass is turning brown. Today we put out hay for the first time since May. The sheep were hungry and so were the donkeys. I think there is still grass to eat for the donkeys and the sheep, but I’m guessing by next week, we’ll be putting hay out every day.