In a way, Georgianna and her friends Nancy and Bert have changed the Mansion. These new residents are funny, engaged, and full of laughter. I love their spirit and their presence.

I was surprised to see Georgianna sad the other day, she is usually the first to cheer other people up. But it can sometimes be sad to be at the Mansion, away from family and the life you have lived and known.

I know Georgianna’s soft spots by now, she loves stuffed animals and teddy bears. She says they give her something to hold, cuddle, love, and late at night, talk to.

So I went looking for the right Christmas gift.

I found these teddy bears at a florist in Salem, N.Y., and they were a good choice. They lit her up. She called the one on the left “Teddy,” and gave the other one to Nancy.

It took me a while to grasp the importance of stuffed animals to the residents of the Mansion. They are something to hold and love, a need that never dies.