We had the best time in my weekly reading-to-the residents class, I had a full house in the Activity Room. They loved the Wonky Donkey and the adventures of Maud, the murderous 88-year-old from Sweden. I never saw them smile and laugh so much or listen so hard.

I was so elated I rushed over to the Battenkill Book Store and got a half-dozen rhyming and word play books for next week.

I also dropped a new idea on the residents that shocked but very much interested them once I sold and explained it a bit.

I asked them if anyone would be interested in taking a weekly meditation class that I would teach. There was a stunned silence, but Sylvie was the first to raise her hand and say “I would love to meditate but I don’t know how…”

I’m your man, I said, I’ve been taking meditation classes for years. Peggie said she would come, and Madeline said she heard someone tell her years ago that meditation was healthy.

I said I had talked to specialists in elderly care and they told me research has shown that people who meditate in assisted care live longer and are healthier and more peaceful.  I read three different studies on how meditation affects the elderly, and how nourishing and grounding it can be.

This opened a few eyes, and there were suddenly a bunch of questions. Most of them had never heard of meditation or had no real idea what it was. These are mostly rural farm people, meditation is not common around here.

They were full of questions, a good sign. What was it exactly? What did you have to learn? How hard was it? How long does it take? Did I do it with Red?

I said I would come over to the Mansion Thursday in the late morning after the daily exercise class. I said I would guide the meditation, which would be silent.  I would tech some breathing exercises and give them some idea of what to think when their minds took off on them in unexpected directions. Afterwards, we could all talk about it and see if we want to continue.

I thought the response was deep and genuine, and this surprised me as the residents are generally wary of undertaking new projects, they tire easily and sometimes struggle with attention spans and focus.

The right story gets them focused and wide-eyed and smiling, the Wonky Donkey was a big hit. I highly recommend it for people in assisted care.  I went out and got $60 worth of fun picture books, including Planet Chicken. The more I do this, the more I learn what the residents love.

I made a strong and sincere case for the idea that this would be helpful to them, there is a lot of research about meditation and people in elder care, it really is healthy and good for them.

I felt some were wary but trusting me, and I can’t wait to try it on Thursday. I love meditating, I told them it is something like a prayer, a way to look inward, feel peace and clarity, and stay focused. A trip inside your mind.

I’ll let you know, my work at the Mansion only deepens and brings me joy the longer I do it.

If you wish to support this work, you can contribute via Paypal, [email protected] or you can send a check to Jon Katz, Mansion Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816, small donations are welcome as much as large ones.

And thanks. We are doing good.