I’m not sure how I would describe today, I guess the best term would be that it was an emotional day, filled with highs and lows.

The exciting news was that the Mansion aides launched their own Amazon Mansion Aides Christmas Wish List on behalf of their children and loved ones. There were 14 items, to begin with, and as I wrote this at 9 p.m., there were three $50 Gift Cards still on the list, that was all that was left.

The gifts are for the children of the aides, and some family members or loved ones who are also needy.  I really wanted the aides to feel recognized and supported.

I thank those who bought the first round of toys and presents, and I thank in advance the four people who will hopefully purchase the remaining items, two Visa gift cards for $54 apiece and two Amazon Gift Cards for $50 each.

These gift cards are for separate people. (If you need the Mansion address for Amazon, it is The Mansion, 11 S.  Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. The phone is 518 677 3771)

I will sleep easy knowing the aides Christmas celebrations will be special this year.  I know $50 is a lot of money, and thank you. We are sprinkling some Christmas mornings with joy and compassion.

They are special people doing special work, and they could use some recognition and support at Christmas. Thanks to you of the Army Of Good, they are getting some.

The earlier part of the day was rough. I found out that two friends are in real trouble, one gravely ill, the other struggling to save a child from a drug addiction that is threatening his life.

A third friend was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

I admit that all of this bad news got me down, along with a thoroughly miserable day filled with wind, rain, and ice.  In the dark days, I’m broody, to begin with. These stories broke my heart a little.

The heavy snows are melting, the farm is a soggy bog, even the dogs can’t stand to go out. Tomorrow, the cold returns sharply and the bog will turn to ice.

I felt myself slipping into a funk, I was down, and sinking farther into the dark place. The wind came up rattling the windows, chunks of ice and snow keep sliding off the porch and landing on the ground with loud and heavy thumps.

I lay down, put a pillow behind my head,  and put Leonard Cohen’s new album Thanks For The Dance on, turned off the lights.

It was pitch black outside and raining heavily at 4 p.m. I wanted to meditate for 15 or 20 minutes, I needed the calm and the peace, especially on such a gloomy day.

I couldn’t choose a better album.

I closed my eyes and listened to Cohen’s poetic and mystical lyrics, I must have just dozed off, I had been up early this morning and was tired, drained from all of the emotion I was absorbing.

And sorry that people I knew and cared were suffering so much and would almost surely be suffering more for some time. I gave thanks for what I have. Maria came in and kissed me on the forehead and took off my shoes. Then she went to her studio to work.

I was dreamy, but I felt some pressure on my legs, and I opened my eyes and was looking straight into the warm eyes of Zinnia, my new Yellow Labrador puppy.

She had hopped up onto the footstool where I rest my legs when I sleep or meditate. And then climbed up onto my chest, licking my face.

She put her head on my shoulder, wagged her tail a bit and went to sleep. Bud was sleeping in front of the woodstove, he abandons me during cold weather when the stove is warm.

I sensed Zinnia somehow knew I was in need of her, I smiled the minute I saw her and she crawled up to lick my face and gnaw a bit in my nose.  She knows how to be happy.

She just lay there and looked at me.

I don’t know what she knew and sensed, I can’t get into her head and don’t wish to. I took it is as support, and sat in the quiet room thinking how lucky I am, and how hard it is for so many other people.

I felt better almost right away, I couldn’t help but smile when I look at Zinnia, and my smiling broke the spell and the Black Dog skittered off to visit someone else. She has a gift that way.

We lay like that for a half-hour, until the UPS truck backed into the driveway and the dogs all rushed to the door, barking as if some great evil was about to come through the door.

I did get my phone out of my pocket to get a photo (Apple 11 Night Vision option) of this intimate moment,  and I took the photo of my new and loving friend and, I guess, companion.