I’m quickly coming to love my weekly readings at the Mansion. It’s different from the readings I’ve become familiar with as a book writer.
People fall asleep. They get up to eat a cookie. They walk out and come back. They walk out and forget to come back. They walk out and don’t want to come back. They talk to one another and shout questions about the stories I’m ready.
This was a very good day. I read a story about a police officer’s encounter with an abominable snowman in the nearby town of Whitehall, I read two elegant stories from a big Christmas table coffee book,
I brought socks for Allan and Madeline, a hat and stamps for Sylvie, new sneakers for Wayne, and three new bras for a shy resident. I brought cookies for the Mansion aides and some more buttons for them – the buttons are a huge hit. So are the stone carved spirit animals.
I distributed a box of Christmas stocking suffers from Colorado. I forget to bring one of my own books, there was some complaining about that. There is usually some complaining, the more they know me and love me, the more complaining i will here.
We had the most compelling talk about Christmas memories, and almost everyone opened up and joined in about memories of Christmas. Madeline remembered life in the Bronx during the Great Depression, no one had any money, but everyone manage to cook something or share something, she remembered the warm smells of Christmas.
Madeline remembered that her neighbors were so poor they used to feed their children and go hungry, two of the mothers in her neighborhood were found dead of starvation.
Her brother, a chemist, was jailed briefly for killing her father as he savagely abused her mother. Her brother was released from prison after 14 days and continued his career as a chemist. Madeline was placed in an orphanage where she lived until she was 17.
Other people remembered mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters long gone. Christmas is a mixed bag at the Mansion, a warm time, but also a difficult and melancholy time.
Maria and I will spend Christmas morning with the residents who have nowhere to go on Christmas Day, most of the residents celebrate the morning with family or relatives. I’ll read a Christmas story and exchange some gifts and we’ll try to do a Karaoke Christmas Carol sing-a-long.
Reading has become important to me. I choose one silly book, often a children’s book of rhymes and poetry, and a serious story I find online or in a book, and then I usually read a chapter from one of my donkeys – the residents ask for that. Right now, I’m reading Saving Simon.
I feel a great connection with the residents at this time of year, I don’t have a family to visit either. Maria and I will spend a peaceful and loving day together in the afternoon and evening. We will probably go see a movie and eat out.
A very quiet Christmas is a special day for us, we look forward to it. We have both found peace and happiness on Christmas by being together.
On Christmas Eve, we are hosting a small dinner for two or three friends. I’m cooking, the recipe is two pizzas, one pear and goat cheese, the other chicken sausage and vegetables.
I do love to cook for Maria and for friends.