Towards the end of dinner, a troop of Boy and Girl Scouts came in, they sat among the residents and it was a lovely thing to see the kids loosen up, ask the residents questions and talk about their own lives and aspirations. What a beautiful idea for a program. The residents love to talk to young people as much as they love to see dogs.

Aging is, in a sense, at least in America, about being cut off from things people love the most. To see Red and these kids there was uplifting, and the residents loved it. I imagine it was meaningful to the Scouts too, it was interesting to see them loosen up and learn how to talk to people so much older than they are, and at the other side of life.

I loved going to the dinner, I hope I get invited again one day. I’d love to bring Red regularly, and I imagine Maria would also love to come once in awhile.