When Red and I came into the Mansion today, a staffer took me aside and said it would be good if we could visit Connie, she gets a bit low around the holidays, she said. Red and I went down the hall, Connie’s door was open and Red didn’t wait for any commands, he made a beeline for her room and was soon enveloped in a loving bear hug. Connie loves to touch Red and hold him close.

She told me she was thinking over the holidays of a child she lost, and of family and home. She did seem down. I sat silently with her and let her be with Red. I asked her if I could get her anything, and she said she would love a Crochet Pad for Scarves, an easy one, if I could find one.

So far, I haven’t been able to find one, even online, I’ll keep looking.

Red does cheer people up, and the atmosphere at the Mansion is warm and empathetic and earnest, I admire the staff greatly.

Still, I know this is not the place many of the residents would wish to be during the holidays. I understand that, Gracious Acceptance asks that we accept people where they are, not where we tell them to be. I could see Connie misses her family gatherings at Christmas.

She asked me how I celebrated Christmas and I said Maria and I didn’t have much family around and so we just sat by the tree with Red and Fate and gave one another gifts. We don’t have a tree this year, but I could tell that Connie wanted me to have what she wanted to have.

i told her I would keep looking for a Crochet Pad (an easy one) for scarves.

If you are so inclined, Connie loves to receive letters and messages, the staff says your messages have been a remarkable blessing for everyone there, the gifts and messages are still coming. During the holidays, they will be doubly appreciated.

You can write to Connie or the other residents c/o The Mansion,  11 S. Union Street, Cambridge, N.Y.,  12816.