When I came into the Mansion today, everyone I saw was reading your letters. The Army Of Good is especially literate. Connie had a pile of letters six inches tall, and she was carefully opening each one to read us the parts she remembered and loved. “They mean a lot to me,” she said.

Connie is working to come out of a tough patch. She is suffering from severe back pain, including a number of torn muscles. She also has osteoporosis and spinal stenosis. Because she can  hardly move, she can barely walk. Because she can barely walk, she is short of breath.

In the Mansion, the residents are often entangled in the painful and continuous circles of life and health. One thing leads to another, and a never-ending procession to doctor’s offices and hospitals. Connie’s doctor has prescribed some ibuprofen for her back, and the medicine he ordered was supposed to come at night.

In case it didn’t Maria and I went out and bought some at the pharmacy, the residents cannot receive any kind of medication without a doctor’s approval or order.

Connie is still without her cellphone, she is expecting service to be restored soon. Her back makes knitting impossible, and Maria and I have undertaken to get her to walk more often, with us and Red. Connie loves Red and will do anything for him, if it is at all possible, she will walk with him.

Connie is mostly confined to her chair until her back heals – a physical therapist is coming in the morning – she sometimes plays games on her Kindle but carefully pores through the stack of letters piled up next to her chair and reads and re-reads each one. They are very important to her now. The only thing she admits to needing besides “a new back,” was some paper tissues, she has enough now for a month or so.

Maria and I are going to double-team her over the next few days to get her walking around, it is essential to her health. I also respect that she is a person of independent will, and it is up to her whether or not to do it.

If you wish to write Connie, she would love it, you can send your letter or photograph to Connie, c/o The Mansion, 11 S. Union Street, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. If you wish to write the other residents here is a list of the first names of residents who wish to receive your letters:  Bruce, Allan, Sylvie, Jean, John Z, John R, Alanna, Peggie, Ellen, Joan, Brenda, Connie, Alice, Madeline, Mary, Barbara, William, Brother Peter, Diane, Helen, Jane, Dottie, Anita, Richard, Gerry, Charlotte, Arthur,  George.