The Mansion Tree

The Mansion staff, astonished by the outpouring of gifts from you to the residents of the Mansion (even the mailman asked what was going on, he is bringing in truckloads of packages), started saving them last week, locking them up in a staff office so that every resident would have something to open, everyone would have a present under the tree.

There are presents in a ring all around the tree and under it, every one of them came from one of you and I wanted you to see what you have done. You have utterly transformed a number of lives with your generosity.

Today, the New York Times reported on a research study revealing an epidemic of loneliness among the elderly, especially those with health problems. Lonely people are far less healthy than people who are not lonely, and do not live as long. This study was painful to read, and I could feel the truth of it, I see some awfully lonely people at the Mansion, despite the heroic efforts of the staff to lift them up and connect with them.

Other facilities I have visited are not as lovingly and attentively run as the Mansion, sometimes the ache of loneliness is palpable. At the Mansion there is one resident who is suffering loneliness and depression this weekend, there has been much loss in his life. He is loving the letters he is receiving. The staff is working to ease his sadness.

But even dedicated caregivers – and loving dogs – are not miracle workers. The elderly are often isolated from the rest of us and live out of sight and often, out of our consciousness.

This will not be a lonely Christmas for anyone at the Mansion, everyone has gotten letters, gifts, cards, photos, everyone has something under the tree.

Thank you again. There are many good people out there, you are an Army Of Good.

I have, as promised, a list of first names of the residents. It’s not appropriate to provide more information than that. The first names are Jean, Mary, Gerry, Sylvie, Diane, Alice, Jean, Madeline, Joan, Allan, Carl, John, Aileen, Christie, Helen, Constance, Alanna, Barbara, Peggie, William, Dennis, John  R., Bruce, John Z.

If you wish to continue your work with the Mansion residents, their address is 11 S. Union Street, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

“Who are all these angels you know?, Peggie asked me yesterday. Angels are mysterious, I said, they come and go as they please, they do have hearts of gold. They often appear at Christmas.