Last week, I met a sweet and soft-spoken man at the Mansion that I can’t tell you about for various reasons. I can say he came suddenly and with very little in the way of belongings.

He is shy, polite, and reluctant to ask for help.

He is working hard to adjust to his new life and told me last week that the one thing he needed the most was a TV. I could feel his loneliness.

He said the TV vast could be small or used or damaged; he would be grateful for it; he is the only resident at the Mansion without one.

He said he would be getting a government check soon and would pay me back for it.

He told me something about his story, but I can’t share it due to Hippa and other privacy concerns.

I prowled online for a good 45 minutes and found some excellent TV bargains. The one I got was new, well-reviewed, and cost $96. It was marked down from $200 and then $169.

I’ve learned a lot about prowling the vast and dark corners of Amazon.

I got him some of the essentials he needs and will give him the TV in the morning.

He will not be paying me back for it, of course. I told him no way.

This will make an enormous difference for him and help him feel connected to the world.

He also spends a lot of time in his room reading, this will help him navigate his time alone, something new for him.

I can take his photo if it seems appropriate and if he wants me to.

This was an amazing week for me at the Mansion. It seemed as if a year’s needs were bottled up during the pandemic. It was overwhelming for a bit, but I’m catching up.

As I left the Mansion today, Peggie called out to me and asked if I could get her a stuffed Koala Bear.

Why a Koala Bear, I asked? “Because I love them,” she said. Of course.

I feel so good about this week, a rebirth in a way.