We had a wild and lively Halloween Party at the Mansion today. Madeline won for most colorful costume, the Army of Good sent much appreciated hats, lei’s, cards, pins, cut-outs, napkins, cookies and muffins, flowers and Halloween decorations. There was also a band playing music.

“This is so wonderful for us,” she said, “this food, this music, these wonderful decorations, it means so much to us, I don’t know if anyone can imagine.” I think they can, I said, they do it all the time. And I bet they will do it again for Christmas, the residents are still talking about that party, and they don’t usually remember that far back.

In fact, one member of the AOG has already sent a box of Christmas decorations and gifts.

The party went on for two hours, the costumes were pretty inventive, I will put some photos of them up later this evening. They had a lot of fun, and they reveled in the favors, games and treats you all sent them from all over the country. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Madeline is right, I can’t really even describe how much your gifts and cards and letters have meant to these people, they were happy and engaged, it was great fun.

I will provide an updated residents list later in the week. For now, it’s Jean, Ellen, Mary, Gerry, Sylvie, Jane, Diane, Alice, Jean, Madeline, Joan, Allan, William, Ruth, John K., Helen, Connie, Brother Peter, Guerda, Robert, Shirley, Alanna, Barbara, Peggie, Dorothy, Art, Brenda, John Z.

You can write them c/o The Mansion, 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

I don’t wish to overburden people, the holidays are coming up. I think it best to focus on Christmas, I’ll arrange for some Thanksgiving lunch celebration during that week. I’d love to see them get the wonderful Christmas they got last year, with gifts under the tree for everyone.

That was the beginning of something special, one of the first major initiatives of the Army of Good, and a clear signal to the residents that they were not alone. If anyone wishes to send some Thanksgiving decorations, that would be wonderful, but I think it might be meaningful to focus on Christmas, I don’t want to ask too much of people.

The residents will never forget it, it tells them what they most need to know and hear – they have not been forgotten.