The Mansion residents presented their stories in the big room this afternoon, they created 14 striking, poignant and powerful stories of their lives and shared them with the other residents. Julie Smith, the activities director, and I read most of them, some of the residents read their own.

I told the Mansion residents when we started this that their stories were important, and needed to be heard. They were their connection to their lives. Many agreed, and I will seek to get these published in saleable pamphlet form and also published online and sold as e-books.
The backdrop was the Fourth Of July celebration, made possible by the buttons, letters, personalized place settings, ribbons, placemats, cars, photos, cookies and flowers, along with flashing red white and blue lights sent by the Army Of Good. Another holiday turned bright thanks to you.

Your generosity has turned the holidays from day into night, they are so looked forward to by the residents.

I judged the story contest, along with Maria and Julie. We chose Robert as the first place winner for his ironic and surprising story about how he and his wife Shirley – she is also at the Mansion – moved out of their home and moved into a big Mansion with large windows, numerous fireplaces, drivers to take them places, and twenty-five fireplaces to keep warm.

“We also have a chauffeur and two vehicles to take us to doctor’s appointments,” he wrote…”I now own a golf cart to tour our grounds because because walking is difficult for me.” He was fortunate, he said, to move into such a grand place and have so many good people care for him, and to live in such a lovely home in his retirement.”

It took a minute for everyone to realize Robert, a former builder who chose to move into the Mansion to be with his wife, was talking about the Mansion, everyone clapped and laughed.

Robert and Shirley are newcomers to the Mansion, the only married couple living there together. I am just getting to know them, Robert has a wicked sense of humor and a beautiful perspective, I appreciate getting to know him. He loves to get letters.  You can write him at The Mansion, 11 S. Union Street, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

He and Shirley are passionate dog lovers, they are especially attached to Red.

Stories are sacred to me, they are my life. They are especially important to the Mansion residents, their stories are their identity, they are so important, and they need to be told and heard. Sometimes I hear them tell me that their lives have been forgotten by the world.

Even the ribbons were sent by the Army Of Good. I’ll also post the other winners and get busy getting this book published.