I came into the Mansion around lunch-time to drop off some cookies for the staff, and some clothes for the residents. Peggie waved me over to her table. “Jon, Jean is sad today,” she said.

I looked over and saw Jean at a different table; she was holding the baby we gave her last year. She adores that baby and sleeps next to her. Jean is usually cheerful and quick to smile. A hairdresser came to the Mansion this morning and did Jean’s hair and some others.

Peggie and the people at her table wanted me to go over and cheer up. I sat down next to Jean and asked if she was sad. Jean always wants me to take a photo of her with her baby, I asked her if she wanted me to do that today, and she said yes.

The Mansion is, in general, a happy and busy place, but there is a sadness inherent to aging. I know Jean has been tired later and is struggling with some memory issues; she always laughs about it. Jean has a sharp sense of humor.

I couldn’t tell if she was sad for the baby, or if she was hugging the baby in that way for comfort. I didn’t want to ask her. She asked me if I had a dog, and I said no, I had just stopped by for a minute. We held hands for a little while, and I had to leave.

There is nothing I can or should do in that situation. Sometimes the residents feel sad, they have left so much of their lives behind, and quite often, they don’t feel well.

My job is to listen, not to rescue or cure. I was glad we got Jean that doll, that she had something to cling to as she tried to get through her hard time.

Jean was sad today, and I thanked Peggie and the people at her table for letting me know. The aides were on it, watching Jean and trying to figure out how to help.