Chris, a secretary who works in the office of Bishop Maginn High School, created a graphic for every one of the Mansion residents, something they will love, something that affirms their identities graphically and colorfully.

I bet these will end up on the doors to their rooms. It was a beautiful thing for Chris to do. I’ve also continued my hunt for masks for the Mansion aides, I’ve tracked down another 30 tonight.

One of the most challenging things about living in the Mansion is the loneliness inherent in losing most of the things in one’s life – friends,  home, pets, belongings, partners, and spouses.

It’s worse when the residents are cut off from their families, as they are now.

Something like these graphics reminds them that they are not alone and not forgotten. Thanks, Chris.

Friday, Jean’s Place will cater to another Mansion lunch, their Mac N’Cheese last week was so popular we’re doing it again Friday along with five pies – including Chocolate Cream, Strawberry Rhubarb, Apple and Lemon and Strawberry. Kelly makes some amazing pies.

Meals mean everything in the Mansion at a time like this, meals are the structure to the day, along with the constant activities heroically present by Julie Harlin, the Mansion Activities Director.

I’m continuing the pizza deliveries to the aides, many of whom are sick (not with the coronavirus, but with colds and infections.)

The aides are tired, working hard. But the Mansion is doing well, the residents are all healthy, and they sure are eating well.

Thanks for participating in the new Pen Pal program we started to remind the residents that they are not forgotten. They love your messages, cards, photos, and letters.  They read them all day, to their friends and themselves.

We are asking people to choose a Pen Pal from the following list:

Edith, Dale, Gary, Ellen, Matt, Gerry, Sylvie, Joanne, Madeline, Brother Peter, Helen, Georgianna, Georgiann, Barbara, Alanna, Linda, Nancy, Annette, Peggie, Becky, Jean, Roberta (Bert), Tim, Ben, John, Jim, Claudia, Ruth.

E-mail messages are welcome and can be sent to [email protected].

The Mansion address is The Mansion, 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

Please don’t expect a reply or acknowledgment. The residents will write when they can; many can’t. But they love getting the letters, this is a critical time to reach out to them.

Thanks for supporting my work at the Mansion, and the work of the wonderful Army Of Good. You can contribute to me via Paypal, [email protected], or by check, Jon Katz, Mansion Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

I’m continuing to collect a list of toys the children and grandchildren of the aides would like while they are home sheltering in place.

I imagine it will be months before Zinnia and I can return to the Mansion to continue our therapy work. I am committed to continuing my support for them. They must not be forgotten.