I only met Julie at the Mansion a few weeks ago; she came there during the worst of the pandemic, I wasn’t allowed in. Julie comes to all of my events at the Mansion now, my weekly Tuesday story readings, and my Thursday meditation classes.
Julie has trouble hearing.
Sometimes I have to sign to her, I am learning how to do it.
When we finally talked, an aide explained that she needed sneakers badly and cross stitching supplies – hoops and patterns; she especially wanted a Unicorn.
This was new to me, and I had to return three different sets of hoops and patterns because they were the wrong size for her fingers.
Last week, I finally got the right ones, and she was beaming with pride when I came into the activity room to read my stories.
She was well along making her unicorn; she said she had been waiting years, and she wanted to thank me and whoever else helped. I told her about the Army of Good.
She was also wearing her shiny new Nike sneakers.
It was a lift seeing that unicorn, a class small act of great kindness and meaning for her. Julie is creative; she fights every day to make her art, and thanks to the Army Of Good for helping me help her. I got her a dozen new patterns; she needs the smaller, five-inch ones.
I am catching up at the Mansion, we were hit with a score of pent-up requests once the quarantine was eased. I think I’m caught up now.
I think Julie has enough needles, patterns, and hoops for now, but if anyone has the small cross stitching and some patterns and wants to help, you can send them to Julie, c/oThe Mansion, 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.
Thanks.
Hi Jon,
As a person with hearing loss myself, the face mask during these times has made it hard for people who lip read, because the face gives a person with hearing loss a lot of facial cues and a way to read speech. Not everyone can sign. It can be so isolating and depressing and when you can’t understand people with there mask on. Think of it as our eyes are our ears. I will often ask if there a shield around the other person can use or if they can lower there mask and step away that a safe distance so I can lipread. Thank you for your compassion and kindness you have with Julie, and all the connections you have at the Mansion, I enjoy reading about it. Little acts of kindness can make a person’s day.
Thank you, Kathleen, Julie does struggle, but she is very, very, sweet…
If Julie’s hearing loss is severe enough, she may be eligible for a coclear implant under Medicare. If she hasn’t had a recent hearing test, this would be a first step. Thanks for being aware and considerate of her disability.
Peg, she sees a doctor regularly, I don’t get involved in medical care, she has what she needs…
Jon, I am a needleworker myself for the past 40 years and also a quilter. I will be more than happy to go thru the items I’m “destashing” to see what I can send to The Mansion. If you know of anyone else who is looking for needlework patterns and/or quilting fabric, books or patterns, please let me know. I’m only too happy to help out fellow needle enthusiasts!
Thanks Laurie, she’s the only one right now..