A few days ago, Winnie, a resident at the Mansion Assisted Care Facility in Cambridge, asked me if I might sell her one of my books. She has read most of them, she said, and enjoyed them, but she hasn’t read any of the newer ones. I brought her a copy of Second Chance Dog, and she had never heard of Frieda and was excited about the book.

Winnie looked a bit down to me, I asked her if she was all right. She said it was her wedding anniversary, she said, and my book was a welcome present.

i asked how long she had been married, and she smiled at me, and said “64 years.” I asked about her husband, and she said he still lives at the farm where they have spent most of their lives together.

“I’ve asked him if he would want to come her and live, and he says no,” she said, “He said he would rather die than come here.” Winnie practices acceptance of life and respect for it, as do I, but I could she felt a little down and Red and I stayed for awhile and spoke with her.

She said her children were taking her and her husband out to dinner at a local Italian restaurant to celebrate their 64 wedding anniversary, She was looking forward to that. I’m glad I picked today to bring her her book.

Happy Anniversary, Winnie. If you care to write Winnie or send her anniversary wishes, you can write her c/o The Mansion, 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.