It was valuable and meaningful to see the residents in a different environment. Robert is at a crossroads in life, a gentle, thoughtful man, he was a builder in his former life, he pointed to one or two buildings around Lake George that he had worked on. He came to the Mansion to be with his wife Shirley, who is now in a nursing home. He has some issues of his own to deal with.

I found him deep in thought by the side of the boat, and I could see that this was time he needed to gather himself. He asked me to pose with him for a photograph, which was meaningful for me. We have gotten to know one another lately and I have gotten some books for him – he loves National Geographic and books on cars and trucks.

I asked  him if I could get him any books, he has more time on his hands right now, and he said he was interested in the St. Lawrence Seaway, and I found several books for  him on the Seaway. I could see by the way he studied the water and the boat that this interested him.

We stood together by the side of the boat for awhile, and then he asked if we could pose together. I was humbled by that, the boat ride turned out to be a wonderful thing, so filled with joy and connection. I’m putting up a bunch of photos on Facebook as an album.