18 March

Yarn, Yarn, Yarn. The Bishop Gibbons Arts Are Very Happy And Off Creating Thanks To You, Says Sue

by Jon Katz

A week and a half ago, I relayed Sue Silverstein’s urgent request for yarn. Her art students – young women, most in this case – were pleading for yarn; they were eager to make things. The yarn is arriving in boxes and boxes.

This morning, Sue sent me this message, and I hope you generous people will feel as good about it as I do. You are angels:

Soooooo many boxes of beautiful yarn this morning,” wrote Sue. “The Army Of Good is truly wonderful. My students are so happy and can’t wait to begin creating! Thank you.”

Sue promised to send me photos of the things the kids are making, and I’ll pass them along and go see them in person. This is a big step, and Sue knows what to do with the support she gets.

I’m sure Sue and her geniuses will burn through the yarn. Feel free to send more to Sue Silverstein, Bishop Gibbons High School, 2600 Albany Street, Schenectady, New York, 12304.

She’s also happy to receive recycled and unused toys, shoes, clothes, acrylic paint, canvases, hats, etc. The address is the same, and thanks so much. This is the true spirit of what it means to be an American, not hate and grievance.

We support compassion and empathy, not contempt and cruelty. We do good whenever we can.

15 March

Bird Watching Yesterday

by Jon Katz

Good morning. It’s a dark and gloomy day here.

Just before dark yesterday, I sat by the window waiting for a bird or two to show up; I find this oddly relaxing and grounding.

They are amazing creatures, birds, ADD creatures, always in motion, alert, and beautiful. It’s raining this morning, but I wanted to get another photo up. I hope it calms and relaxes the people reading it.

And no, they are not allowed to enter the house at night. We do not have heated birdhouses in the winter.

9 March

Good Morning, Saturday, March 9, 2024. Rain On The Way. Mansion Fund Needs Some Help

by Jon Katz

Welcome to the weekend; rain storms are headed our way; before that, we’re heading to thrift stores so Maria can get some new reading glasses; she only goes to opticians a little.

We have company for dinner tonight; we’re making rice and vegetables from a recipe Maria found. I am asking for Mansion support from the Army Of Goods; the fund is getting low (Mansion Fund, Jon Katz, P.O. 205, Cambridge, New York. You can help via Paypal, [email protected], Venmo, Jon Katz@Jon-Katz-13. or by check, Jon Katz, Mansion Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

Yesterday, I bought $200 in games, puzzles, and glue guns for painting and drawing. The Mansion fund was down to $48 this morning.

 

8 March

The Mansion’s Bingo Wars. Can Meditating Help? It Seems Members Of My Meditation Class Are Doing Most Of The Battling

by Jon Katz

My Mansion reading today: Sit Like A Mountain:  Sitting quietly, quietly breathing in and out, we develop strength, concentration, and clarity. So sit like a mountain. No wind can blow the mountain down.” – Thich That Hahn.

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I talked to several Mansion aides recently, and they told me that the staff needs help running bingo games. The residents, I am told, get intensely competitive, even sometimes to the point of throwing things and yelling at the winners and each other.

(Above, Ellen from Memory Care; below, Art, who says little but loves anything related to cars.

When I asked where the problem was, members of my meditation class were cited as the worst sports at losing. After teaching three years of meditation and calming breathing, I was startled. The three mentioned were among my class’s  quietest and most enthusiastic meditators (none were present today.)

They love the breathing exercises and the meditations themselves. But it’s unfair to blame them for their behavior. In my class, they are lovely and calm. But it’s a difficult time, and Bingo takes on great importance to people who need a win.

One of the Bingo managers came to me today and asked if I could speak with the unruly meditation class members and give them tools other than shouting and throwing things to work with. I said I would take this up next week when everyone was present. Today was a shopping day at Walmart, and the problem was that people were absent.

This will be an exciting challenge, as the aides believe the ones who get angry get help themselves. They said they’d welcome any help. I’m going to do some research and come up with some ideas.

Art after meditating.

Every week, an aide walks Art from meditation class to the cafeteria, and he needs clarification if he walks alone. Art is a sweet and kind man.

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