Red and I visited Bob at the Mansion. He is ill right now, and struggling. He is taking some powerful medications and finds it hard to walk even short distances. He is one of the sweetest and most gracious men I have known.

Bob and Shirley left the home that Bob built a few months ago, she died recently of cancer, and he moved to a smaller room on the first floor. Bob and I talk often, I came today to sit with him and bring him his month copy of Builder Magazine, which I subscribed to because he loves to read it.

He can’t read now, or eat much, and I could see he was in considerable pain. Through all that, he asked me about our trip to New Mexico and told me he was impressed with me. I told him I was impressed with him.

I saw him nursing his food, but he is unable to eat much of it. I shifted to active listening, my job is not to cheer him up or make him any false promises, it is to meet him where he is. So although we usually talk easily, we sat in silence, and Red dropped to the floor and was still.

I asked him what I can do for him, and he said nothing, he has yet to read most of the magazines and books I brought him. I told him I understand, when  you feel poorly you don’t  feel like doing much of anything.

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