On many levels, the Mansion has been a learning experience for me,  for things big and small. As I get to know the residents and they get used to me, and Maria, I see more and learn more. Bingo is not just a game at the Mansion, it’s a ritual, and an important one.

Here, more than any other activity that I have seen, the residents find a kind of community. They watch out for each other, help one another, share prizes and make sure no one gets left out or left behind.

About half of the players need some kind of assistance – the stroke victims can’t move their fingers easily to mark their cards, so we move around to help them. One of the players can’t see, another is almost completely deaf, another has memory issues.

One has tremors. Our friend Susan Popper comes to Friday Bingo when we can, tonight she sat beside Joan, who won two rounds of Bingo. Joan can’t see the cards herself but she loves to play and join the community.

The residents usually concentrate on their own games. There is sometimes conscious cheating – the prizes are important to them – and sometimes unconscious. The games begin at 6 p.m. and end at 7 p.m., when the residents tire and begin getting ready for bed. Once or twice during the games, the staff comes in and brings medicines.

We got a new regular, Jackie, who came to the Mansion a few weeks ago, and loves Bingo. She is quite shy. The residents are gracious about welcoming newcomers.

Maria and I take turns calling the numbers, and the players kid us, if they don’t fill up their cards, they shout for another caller. Wayne calls for  Red to call the numbers. I am always surprised at how tired we are when the game is over. We are very happy doing this together.