Zinnia and I visited the Memory Care Unit of the Mansion today, and we found Activity Director Paryese Bates Backer out planting the seeds with Memory Care residents. The Army Of Good Sent the seeds a month ago.  It was clear to me that they urgently need garden beds. I did.

In the photo above, Ellen asked to sit with Zinnia.

Paryese, who is shy about asking for anything, said out loud that she needed to get hold of some Raised Garden Beds so that the Memory Care (and Mansion) residents could plant flowers and plants without falling or bending over. I said we would help.

She wanted to make sure nobody fell. And most of her residents can’t bend down and plant things. They hated just watching.

I said I would get some for them, and she was shocked but grateful. I called John Rieger at Country Products and said the two I want, plus soil and eight more tomato castles, would come to about $400.  We can make a big difference.

I could use help with that; I don’t want to clean out the Mansion Fund. If you’re going to help, you can contribute in any amount via Paypal, [email protected], and Venmo, Jon-Katz@Jon-Katz-13. You can also send a check to Jon Katz, Mansion Fund, P.O.  Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. Small amounts will help.

I’m being careful about asking for help these days,  and the fund is kept low, but this is right up our alley;, a class small act of great kindness. The amount is comparatively small and the good enormous. The Memory Care residents are avid gardeners and hate having to sit in chairs and watch the staff plant their flowers. I’m going to get one good-sized garden bed and one smaller one.

We’ll take it from there.

If you can help, that would be great. It’s planting time.

 

(Mansion Director Kassi Gormley and a Memory Care resident planted flowers and vegetables today together.)

Zinnia was amazing. She was out of therapy work for nearly two years but is getting back to the swing of it, both at the Mansion, the Memory Care Unit, and Bishop Maginn High School in Albany. The effect on the residents is stunning and profound to see.

I did a Zinnia photo album today; she was at her loving and helpful best; the Memory Care residents love seeing her; it brings smiles and memories back to them. Come and see. Like Red, she has a gift for spotting who wants to see her and who doesn’t. She also has a knack for spotting needs.

 

Two memory care residents asked if they could babysit Zinnia and sit with her for a while. It was a beautiful thing to see. Zinnia got the idea right away and stayed put.

They couldn’t remember the names of their dogs and cats, but they recognized the animals quite distinctly.  Zinnia is like Red because she intuits the situation and understands what to do. She sat with these two charming people for 15 minutes.

The Memory Care residents have a gentleness and sweetness about them I find touching. They can drift away and decide to go for a walk or forget where they are sometimes, but a dog will anchor and focus them. They all wanted to know when Zinnia was coming back. It means so much to them to sit with her, touch her, see her.

 

Helen is a Mansion resident dog lover. We visit her whenever she is there, and Zinnia knows to jump on the sofa so Helen can talk to her and pet her. Helen says nothing calms her down more than Zinnia.

 

Activities Director Paryese and two Memory Care residents plant some vegetables. They need eight more tomato castles; I’ll get them next week.

 

Zinnia is always looking for her friends Kelley and Tania; they know her well and always have time for a kiss, scratch, and hug. Zinnia is at home in the Mansion, as at Bishop Maginn High School. What a gift to work with a dog like her.

If you can help with the garden beds, great; if not, I understand via Paypal, [email protected], Venmo, Jon-Katz@Jon-Katz-13. And thanks for thinking about it.