I wanted to offer a early update on what your support has enabled me to give to the Mansion residents today, many of whom are still in an adult care center 16 miles from the place they call home, the Mansion.

I’ve learned in the past few days just how safe and secure they feel at the Mansion, I can see how special a place it is with my own eyes, and I am seeing the fear and confusion and dislocation their evacuation has caused them.

This is such a fragile age, and they were taken from the Mansion of necessity quickly and without time for explanation. No one was hurt or injured in any way, thanks to the very quick work of the staff and the aides.

But they were certainly upset.

“Did I do something wrong?,” Alice asked me this afternoon when I brought her flowers and a stuffed animal at the Mansion. “Why did they make me leave?”

I told her she did nothing wrong, that she was going home. The Mansion staff is telling everyone the same thing.

The  repairs are almost finished at the Mansion, the special heaters and humidifiers are humming day and night. The roof has been repaired. The residents are now at the mercy of state officials, who won’t be available to inspect the Mansion repairs until Monday at the earliest, they have to approve the move back.

The best guess is that the residents will return on Wednesday, Mansion officials broke the news to them this morning, they are sad and frustrated but relieved to know they will be going home, as they call the Mansion.

I appreciate the transparency of the Mansion owners and staff – they come twice a day to update each  resident on the progress and plan for return.

I wanted to let you know what I am going, thanks to the Army Of Good.

First, I went to a local supermarket – we have no local florists in my town – I bought eight baskets of flowers, six African violets and a couple of mixed baskets that are right.

I made a stop at Battenkill Books where I bought eight stuffed animals in their children’s section – the residents love their stuffed animals, I’ve gotten a lot of them there.

I brought a bag of sugar-free chocolate jellies, eight large print books.

We are making arrangements for a band and the delivery of Chinese Food – the residents have been asking me for this for months – to have a Homecoming Celebration – when they return. We’ll put on quite a party.

I showed up at the Danforth Adult Center hauling six large bags full of flowers, food and stuffed animals, we were a big hit. Dozens of the Danforth residents pleaded to touch Red, so we spent an hour visiting them.

“You are so lucky to have a dog like that visiting you,” Jeanette told Jean, from the Mansion.

I brought Sylvie a beautiful Tote Bag from Asia, a stuffed Llama, paper, envelopes and stamps so she could resume her letter writing. I brought her some purple African violets, which she loves, and a special colorful green slouch hat for her to wear – she had to leave her hats back at the Mansion. She was very happy and actually told me that she loved me, and that she loved Red.

Sylvie is getting strong and comfortable again, she clearly understands what is happening and asked me to make sure I saw  each and every resident and gave them flowers.  She followed me to make sure that I didn’t miss anyone. I didn’t.

I brought flowers and some food to Bill and Brother Peter, both of them seem deeply depressed and frustrated by having to leave the Mansion. The disorientation was very vivid. Peter is a stoic, he has been a monk for 50 years, he understands acceptance.

I brought Alanna some toiletries she requested, and visit Alan in his room. Alan, always poised, just shrugged when I asked him if he was okay.

I’ll put up some photos of the visit tonight, but I just wanted to let you know what your donations have already wrought and I thank you.

I think we made a huge difference yesterday and today. I’m going back tomorrow. Red and I were at the Mansion for three hours, he spent some time with every resident, and with many other aged people he had never meet.

I can tell you the residents are in good care, are beginning to understand what is happening, and are very eager to get back to the Mansion.

I was happy to spread the message I was told I could spread: they are all coming home in two or three days, that is not in doubt, barring some unforeseen development.