I wanted to let you good people know that I was finally able to purchase a good reclining lift chair for Connie this morning, and it is being delivered  to the Mansion on Tuesday. I bought it over the phone and insisted on the quickest delivery and Roxie, the saleswoman,  was most helpful and understanding. She even took $100 of the price without my even asking .

But I also wanted to tell you that  minutes after buying the chair, Connie was rushed to a local hospital. I have no more details to share and am not at liberty to disclose any more information. If she is able to request letters or cards, I’ll let people know.

I am disappointed the chair couldn’t arrive before Connie left for the hospital. I hoped to make that happen.

I talked with Mansion officials about the chair, and we all hope Connie will return to the Mansion soon, but if for any reason she can’t or does not, there are a number of other residents at the Mansion who are also in urgent need of a reclining lift chair, so I’d like to keep the order and have the chair delivered, hopefully for her comfort but certainly in her honor.

I hope this is acceptable to all of the good people who contributed money for the chair. Maria and I have become quite close to Connie, as is Red, and we both have great admiration for her honesty and courage. She has not had an easy life, she has always made the best of it.

The Mansion is a place of perpetual lessons about life, and about control and about the drama and challenge of aging. The Mansion is a gateway to the Other Side, a place of great love and consideration.

So Connie’s chair has become a symbol in it’s own right of this strong and loving and brave woman, who fights every day for a meaningful life, and one of service to others. So many of the Mansion residents love her and care about her, the staff as well.

I don’t know what information will be made available to me, or if we can see Connie in the hospital. I will share what I can and I want to thank all of you again for making this time so meaningful for her, and so comfortable. Scores of people are wearing the caps and scarves and gloves that you made possible for her to make – her room is full of yarn –  and hopefully, there will be many more.