This is a difficult Christmas for Bob. He came to the Mansion several months ago to be with his wife Shirley, who was ill. Shirley, a great lover of dogs, died shortly after they moved in, and now, Bob is sick.

He just came back to the Mansion from a rehab facility, and he fought hard every day to get back to the Mansion, where he wishes to spend the rest of his life.  I was him sitting on the coach by himself, it was the coach he often sat on with Shirley.

He is uncomplaining and never expresses regret or self-pity, but you can see the sadness in his eyes.

I sat with him a bit, but he had trouble hearing me. DarLisa, a Mansion aide, saw he was alone and sat with him, the two of them laughed and hugged and sang some Christmas songs together.

DarLisa has an eye for need like this, as do the aides who work at the Mansion. I talk easily with Bob, we have a lovely relationship, but I doubt I could get him to laugh and smile like DarLisa did. Christmas brings out the better angels in us, and DarLisa is one of them.

There are some people in the world who just care for others.

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