I was poring over the reading2connect website today looking for new books to buy for the Mansion residents, and one caught my eye, I had somehow missed it before, it was called “One Set Of Four Skits,” and it cost $85. This is a set of four skits.

Each skit has two speaking roles. There is a separate booklet for each role, so there are eight booklets in all. The skits were written for seniors bh BI-FOLKal Productions, who agreed to let authors and researchers Susan Ostrowski and Peter Dixon make some minor adaptations to increase readability.

Older adults, say Susan and Peter (yes, we are becoming friends) very much enjoy reading and listening to their friends and peers read. The skits – their titles are “The Present, The Physical, The Couple, and Ready Or Not, Here Comes Winter, were chosen because they are relevant and humorous.

“With these skits in hand,” say the publishers, “our readers’ innate senses of humor and understanding of what acting entails become evident to all.”

I am  excited about these skit books, I intend to produce these skits and gather a cast and present them at the Mansion in the Spring.  I’m trying to corral Maria into joining me, she loves the Mansion work. I was a producer once – Executive Producer of the CBS Morning News, and I hated it, but I am overjoyed to be producing these stories.

I talked to Morgan Jones, the Mansion Director about the four skits today, and she was also excited. She said she loved the idea and added that she’d invite all of the families of the residents and the community as well.

We’ll stage it in the Mansion Great Room, I’ll go and start recruiting a cast tomorrow.

The skits are relevant and simple. “The Physical ” is about a physical exam, a very relevant subject. It opens with a doctor saying “For a man of 60, you’re in remarkable shape.” The doctor examines the patient, and adds, “My goodness, your father must have lived a long time.”

I have four residents in mind, they are hams, I think, and they all have a sharp sense of humor and irony. They are not afraid of performing in front of other people, and their egos are strong and eager.

It’s interesting, the Mansion is a Medicaid facility, most of the residents are well past 60, but they retain their humor and curiosity. They are extremely self-aware. It is easy to underestimate them.

Life on the edge does not allow for much self-delusion, these people know who they are and where they are. They have all seen a lot of life, and they all know where it ultimately goes.

But I am surprised – thrilled actually – to discover with these simple but very well crafted books –  that their ambition to create and their need for stimulation is very strong, even if submerged or set sometimes. I realize I have to go inside to get it, and these books are an effective tool.

These people are profoundly distracted with survival – they worry about money, health, soap, clothes, food and family.

What I am learning is that most of the residents are very eager to read. They feel they have lost their culture and most of the things they have loved. They have mostly given up on the idea that it is possible to get their culture back. It is difficult, I have seen, but it is possible. I’ve seen it happen several  times this week.

I’ll be able to support the cast, they can read from their scripts, they don’t need to memorize the words unless they wish, although I will certainly give them the opportunity to try. My goal with this work as in my therapy work with Red is a zero tolerance for mistakes.

Just like no dog can ever jump or growl or bit, nobody like me must ever make anyone feel bad, or ridiculed or pressured or exposed in any uncomfortable way.

More than anything, the hope is to re-discover the joy and healing power of reading. I  believe that is possible.

More than anything else, the seniors I am working with have lost confidence in their memory and reading skills. Building confidence is the first  step, it is important they succeed, and not be seen to fail, as many expect them to. These institutions are not generally created or funded or able to promote creativity, they are, by regulations and economics, focused on safety and comfort.

Those things are important, and nobody is giving them the money any time soon to do much more. Their funds and reimbursements are being slashed every day.

The casting challenge is whether or not to cast people with severe memory disorder. Perhaps someone – me or Maria – can be with them and help them read their lines if necessary. We’ll have to figure it out.

In any case, I am going full-speed ahead to produce a”Night Of Four Skits” at the Mansion, we’ll pick a date this week. I might want to hire a band to play some music and create a bit of a theatrical air. Maybe have some of the residents act as ushers and ticket takers.

I much appreciate the work and support of Susan Ostrowski and Dr. Peter Diamond, they are committed to using books to revive memory and strengthen voice in elder care facilities. Sacred work, they have donated several books (I’m going back tonight get the Robert  Frost  booklet) and they have communicated regularly with me.  I am grateful for their encouragement.

“We enjoy witnessing your inquisitive mind at work and your discoveries as they unfold,” Susan wrote me tonight. “We’re learning quite a bit from your writings.” That is kind and generous, but the actual truth is that it is me who is learning so much from their writings.

I think the genius of these books is their simplicity and relevance, they seem to speak in the same voice as the elderly, even those with memory issues. This simplicity is not something I would ever have thought of, it can sound juvenile, but it isn’t. And I love the idea of liberating reading from staff or people like me. In a sense, it reminds me of my parenting. The good parent is one who is no longer necessary at some point, not the one who clings and keeps everyone close.

Ultimately, they will not need to be read to.

They need to read to themselves and one another. I’m an enabler.

We’re not seeking miracles, nobody can really turn back the clock, especially not the health care industry, but we can slow it down a bit and return some pride and dignity and stimulation to the lives of people living in elder care.

Stay tuned, the “Night Of Four Skits”  are coming to town. I’ll get some posters printed and post them around town.

Army Of Good: Decorations and pennants and posters are welcome, so are small donations, this won’t cost much (except the band.) You can send decorations (date coming later) to the Mansion, 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. You can send donations to me at Post Office Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816 or via Paypal, [email protected].

If you wish to write to the Mansion residents, your letters and messages are precious to them: Same address as above, the residents are Winnie, Jean A., Ellen, Mary, Gerry, Sylvie, Jane, Diane, Alice, Jean G., Madeline, Joan, Allan, Bill, John K. Helen, Bob, Alanna, Barbara, Peggie, Dorothy, Tim, Debbie, Art, Guerda, Brenda, Wayne, Kenneth, Ruth.

Thanks much.