I am always grateful when someone at the Mansion asks me for help for the residents, and I can provide it. It feels very good. This week, a chance to help Joan in an important way.

She’s getting a radio and some music CD’s.

The Mansion staff had a meeting the other day and they talked about Joan, who is much loved there but who is dealing with deepening memory issues. Sometimes she is restless and anxious -at times, she does not understand the world she is living in, a disturbing thing for anyone.

They meet several times a week to talk about the resident’s needs, and they figure out when to enlist me.

The staff has seen that music brings her joy and calms her.

Kassi took Joan for a ride the other day and plugged her smartphone into the speaker and she saw how peaceful and happy Joan was while she was listening, and they drove around.

Joan loves to dance and sing, music brings her great joy and calm.

I’m planning a ride with Joan this week – her sister has granted permission –  Maria and I will pick  her up and take her for a spin to Vermont, or to look at some pretty hills. I’d like to do this often.

I was asked by the staff if I could help get Joan a small radio for her room, and some music CD’s for her to play, to help her feel safe and at ease. This is not as simple as it sounds, as Joan tends to pack up her things every night because she thinks she’s going home in the morning.

Gifts and books and stuffed animals and paintings for the walls seem to disappear.

Also, Joan will not be able to set up the CD or use the CD’s, so it needs to have Blue Tooth capacity, so other people can also use it with their smartphones or tablets.

People like me and the staff.

I would love to sit and listen to music with Joanie. So would Maria, I imagine.

I found the right CD Player on Amazon for $59.99, it not only has Bluetooth but wall mounts so we can attach the player right to the wall, and Joan can’t pack it away.

I also ordered five CD’s from musicians I know she loves –  Willie Nelson, the Beatles, and Fleetwood Mac. These are among Joanie’s favorites, she loves older rock music and mainstream country music.

I bought Legend, the Best of William Nelson; Magical Mystery Tour, Rubber Soul, Abbey Road from the Beatles, and The Very  Best Of Fleetwood Mac.

I bought the CD player and the five CD’s, they are on the way.

If any of you out there have music CD’s that are older, and were recorded in the 80’s and 90’s, it would be helpful if you sent them along, c/o Joan to Joan’s Music, 11 S.Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

Please don’t send more than one or two as we’ll get swamped – the Army Of Good can be frightening sometimes –  but we can store any extras.

And thanks. Joan has a a beautiful spirit, and music touches her soul and brings it peace in a way almost nothing else does.