Maria and Red and I got to the Mansion just after lunch today, just in time to meet Connie, who was coming home after several weeks in the hospital and a rehabilitation facility in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Connie came with her son Mike and about a dozen huge plastic bags filled with books, cookies, letters, messages and  other gifts from the Army of Good, a special crew is going into her room tomorrow to sort all the stuff out.

She was exhausted and in pain, but thrilled to be back home and there was a palpable buzz in the air as the other residents and staff saw her or learned she was back. A long and loving line of people came to hug her, welcome her back.

Jean, one of her closest friends came up to hold her and hug her. “Why didn’t you tell us you were going away?,” she asked.

“Because I left in an ambulance said Connie,”it happened pretty fast.” Maria and I were very happy to see Connie. She has had a long and painful ordeal, but some dedicated and skillful physical therapists at the Wesley Rehabilitation Center got her up and moving. The Mansion staff will continue that work.

We left Connie alone to rest and settle in. We’ll check back tomorrow. She and Red had a loving and warm re-union with Connie, so did Maria.

Connie’s room is stuffed with gifts and packages and letters, we don’t yet know what’s in most of them, you are a loving and generous group of people, and I thank you from my heart. Your messages made an enormous difference to Connie, they uplifted and inspired her when she most needed it. At a painful time, she knew she was never alone.

Red has a powerful effect on he, he just lifts her spirits.

I can’t see where we could even put many more letters in her room, but the Mansion will find space to store them. Thanks, thanks, thanks.