I’m stepping up my Mansion visits, as I often do during the holidays. I don’t much like them either. But Zinnia is a passport through any door, even Charlie, who doesn’t always like visitors.

I’m getting to know Charlie. We got him to fly fishing gear in late Spring, but life intervenes as it often does at the Mansion, and he has not been able to go on an outing yet.

I couldn’t go for most of the summer either.

We’ll get there in the Spring, the Gods willing.

Charlie was in his room this afternoon, watching a sports news show.

He loves the Yankees.  I sat down with him for 10 or 15 minutes, and I think he enjoyed it. We talked about many things; Charlie is intelligent, thoughtful, and easy to be with.

He is crazy about Zinnia, and she returns the favor, even if he has french fries to offer.

I know Charlie gets sad sometimes, and I know the holidays are rough on him, but his sister just visited, and she got him a lot of the things he needed. I very much enjoyed getting to know Charlie. I have a feeling we could become friends.

I had to stop the room visits during the worst of the pandemic, and  I hope the new variant doesn’t crank that all up again.

The one-on-one room visits are special, it’s where I really get to know the residents and they get to know me.

I’ll do everything I can to brighten Charlie and the other resident’s holidays. I can get in now every day, I just have be tested and have my vaccines complete, and my temperature was taken.

I have two vaccines and a booster, and I am grateful for all three; and I will wear a mask or a buffalo head if that will help make the people around me safe.

Suppose you would like to help me make the holidays brighter – food, games, celebrations – old movies and music, warm clothes when needed. Please contribute to the Mansion Fund, 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

Small donations are as welcome as big ones. You can contribute via Paypal, [email protected], or by Venmo, jon-Katz-13. Or by check, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.