The evacuated and displaced Mansion residents were all excited, they had packed their belongings and were waiting to be picked up and returned to the Mansion this afternoon, they thought they would have dinner in the place they called home.

They will have to wait another day. Tonight, they ate the dinner nobody wanted to have.

The state inspectors who have to approve their return didn’t come on Monday, they are expected to come tomorrow, Tuesday. The Mansion staff was as upset as I have seen them, everyone dreaded going to the Danforth to talk to the disappointed residents.

I was scheduled to read to the Mansion residents still in the building, but when I heard the news, Red an I went racing instead off to the Danforth Adult Care Center, where they and Tia were gathered in the chapel, their assigned eating space, waiting for their BLT on white bread dinner.

They were a grim and discouraged lot.

In my time at the Mansion it is rare for anyone to thank me, nor do I need or expect that. They give me plenty back. But today it was different. Every single one of the residents thanked me for being there. And more than once. That’s how I know it matters.

One thing I have learned doing this work with the elderly is that what they most care about is that you show up. They always know who shows up and who doesn’t. So many people in their long lives don’t.

Tia, a Mansion aide has shown up, along with a half dozen others, including Brittany and Kelly and Hollyanne and Tiffany. Tia shared to many evenings with these people in the past month.

I told them what I knew. The Mansion had requested a one day inspection delay just to make sure every detail was taken care of, the owners fully expected the residents to come home tomorrow, once the state gives its okay. One by one, they asked me questions, especially whether or not I believed they could come back to the Mansion tomorrow. I said I couldn’t offer any guarantees, but I sincerely believe they will come home tomorrow.

I walked through the Mansion today, it looked great. I dispensed my new haul of large print books, purchased for a few dollars each at a library store in Williamstown, Mass.

They were devoured by the residents in the Mansion. I told the people at the Danforth about the DVD party in which the residents told me their favorite movies and I ordered DVD’s on Amazon right then and there. The movies are arriving tomorrow and Wednesday, the residents in both places have plowed through their DVD collection.

I got several huge picture books the residents love to leaf through. Normally, they are too expensive to buy, but I got four or five for about $10.

Sylvie gave me more letters to mail and Art, who is very eager to get back to the Mansion, told me the wristwatch I got him was the first one in his life that fit his wrist and worked well.

They did not seem angry to me, just sad and somewhat needy.  And very tired.

I see it makes a huge difference for them to see a familiar face, it connects them with their homes and reassures then they are not being abandoned in a strange place.

They miss their own rooms and belongings, of course. The sudden move increases their own sense of fragility.

The Mansion is a home-like place, the Danforth is a perfectly good place, but it has an institutional look, it is very different from the Mansion. The lights are bright and in the chapel, no one can see outside to know if it is day or night.

I thought the residents were numb, but they lit up when I asked if they wanted me to read to them. I thought it a good time to try to distract them, get their minds into something else. Red moved from person to person, checking for the needy.

There was no sleeping or dozing off, I had their full and total attention. I read a poem written by a young migrant laborer that was written during the Depression, they were rapt, and I read a short story about a boy who took a dare and lit a firecracker too close to his hand.

His pants were singed, but he wasn’t injured. They followed every word of that story. Three of the residents asked me if I could locate books they remembered from some years ago, they would love to read them again. So far, I’ve found two.

I had to leave to get to my acting class, I’ll write about that tomorrow, I’m tired now.

I read the first chapter of the story of Maud, an 88-year-old woman who was very sweet and gentle, except that she murdered people she didn’t like from time to time. They wanted to hear more. They got quite into it.

So Tuesday, we’ll see. I would never lie to the residents, I do think they will be home before dinner tomorrow. Our Homecoming Celebration has been moved to Friday.

The Mansion looks great, everyone is ready for these people to come home, especially them. I was grateful for the chance to be there tonight, I like to be needed and feel needed. And they are always grateful to see Red. Smiles follow him everywhere he goes.

It’s time for them to come home. Please send some energy their way.