Bedlam Farm Blog Journal by Jon Katz

I have trained and used three different therapy dogs—Izzie (Lenore didn’t quite make it), Red, and now, Zinnia, one of the best of them all. She senses fear and unease and tends to it without a need for command and direction.

I always write about the Mansion but too often fail to take note of this incredibly loving and empathic creature. Great therapy dogs usually don’t need to be told what to do; they know what to do, and it is inside of them.

This post is dedicated to Zinnia, a dog of great heart and love. She does an awful lot of good in her world. Here are some photos that show her great instincts and heart.

(Above, someone has to walk Ed to the dining room; he needs clarification and guidance. Maria and I volunteered to do it when we were there. I taught Zinnia how to do that last week, and this week, I went right out with him and walked him right out into the cafeteria before scarfing up a few crumbs. She knew what to do and guided him all the way,  something that was in her bones. I follow behind and see her nudging Art in the right direction if he wanders.)

Lili: The favorite dog meets the dog’s favorite aide at the Mansion. Zinnia makes powerful friends wherever she goes, and Lili comes to see Zinnia whenever we visit.

We saw a woman frightened and upset on the sofa, and I think she was considering moving into the mansion. Zinnia spotted her long before I did and came right over to greet her, kiss her on the chin, and then climb up on the sofa next to her. No commands or directions from me, Zinnia knew precisely what to do. She was an enormous help to this woman.

Zinnia’s presence on the couch seemed to work like magic. As she nestled closer to her new friend, a sense of calm and tranquility washed over her. It was a truly powerful sight. Zinnia, our beloved therapy dog, is a testament to the healing power of love and intuition.

 

Sharon, who is leaving the Mansion shortly, loves to meditate. She says Susan, who is new, meditates but doesn’t really like it. “I think it’s kind of silly,” she says. But she comes every week. And she says she comes to see Zinnia. It’s true. She laughs about it, which I love to see.

The Mansion is a place of great feeling and emotion. I’m always trying to catch it.

 

Sharon needs some help replacing her very cherished computer tablet, and I need some help getting one.

Sharon, a published poet, has been a cherished member of the Mansion community for several years.

The Mansion’s resources cannot provide the specialized medical care she urgently needs. This has necessitated her relocation to a facility that can better cater to her complex illness.

She is looking for another place to go, which is tough on her, as she is very comfortable at the Mansion and has become a cherished friend to me and others.

Her illness is complex and needs special care, and she has to leave the Mansion.

She is finding it difficult to find a facility that will take her; she needs very advanced care. Her daughters wanted to care for her, but she refused, not wishing to burden them, and came to the Mansion.

She thinks she’s getting closer to a facility that will accept in Saratoga. I admire Sharon and her courage and dignity; she is not only a gifted poet but a warm and decent human being bravely facing severe difficulties without complaint or lament.

Leaving the Mansion is hard enough for her, but losing her table and connection to the outside world is especially painful and isolating.

Today, Sharon’s need for assistance has reached a critical point. As her friend, I am determined to help her, but I am also aware of the financial constraints many of us are facing.

That’s why I am reaching out to the Army of Good and others who can offer support. Your help can make a significant difference in Sharon’s life.

The Mansion Fund can’t do it at the moment.

Sharon’s work has been chosen to appear in several “Best Poet” collections.

She asked for and needs a reliable and robust computer tablet to navigate the Internet, which is her passion, interest, and work. It is a link to her whole life, which she will need. Sharon is immensely proud and hates to ask for help. I know it is something significant to her.

The Mansion Fund can’t do it at the moment.

If you can help, that would be great. You can send a contribution via Paypal, [email protected], or Jon Katz (mark it for Sharon), Mansion Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12818, or via Venmo, Jon Katz@Jon-Katz-13.

As she has gotten sicker and spent more time in the hospital, Sharon only asked me for some African violets that grow in the woods for her window sill. I gave her some and a regular stream of poetry books. I hope this isn’t the last time I will get to see her; I’m not sure where she is going or when she will leave, although I promised to get a tablet to her wherever she is. I’m hoping it’s before she finds a new home.

She is a student in my Meditation Class and asked me today if I could stay on and talk with her. Sharon is stoic and fiercely independent, and I knew this was serious, although she often speaks with me and has given me some fresh poetry to read and keep.

Two years ago, I gave her a computer tablet so she could research her illness and explore the outside world, including poetry and her many other interests.  It changed her life, as often happens.

She told me she spends 90 percent of her time on the tablet. However, the battery died a few days ago and cannot be recharged or repaired.

I told her I would get her a replacement, hopefully before she had to leave the Mansion.

(Sharon  in my class today)

The cheapest tablet I found was an Amazon tablet, which cost $94. However, it doesn’t do what she needs. It doesn’t have all of the things that she loves and is used to on her tablet.

The ones I like for her are reliable, long-lasting, and easy to use. They range between $200 and $500 and can do everything she needs. One thing she uses them for is medical research related to her illness.

She says this would be a life-changer. She has had enough of those.

Of the ones I’ve researched, the best one for her is a Samsung Galaxy tablet. The one I like is $499, but I’ll get her the best one for the money I have and receive. I am applying as much of my own money as I can. I’m checking out the Apple tablets, which are expensive.

I could use your help to get Sharon this tablet. She is only walking with a walker now, and I can see the pain in her face, although she never speaks of it. Attitude is essential, and the tablet has been her most precious possession.

If you can help, that would be great. You can send a contribution via Paypal, [email protected], or Jon Katz (mark it for Sharon), Mansion Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12818, or via Venmo, Jon Katz@Jon-Katz-13.

If the donations exceed the cost, I will place the money in the Mansion Fund. We also have some serious needs to respond to, including T-shirts for a Fourth Of July Festival.

Thanks for reading this, and thanks for any help.