Search Results for: Madeline

“I am the little Christ child. “Who wanders through the world bringing peace and happiness to good children. You took me in and cared for me when you thought me a good child, and now you shall have my blessing for what you have done.” – The Legend of the Christmas Tree, by Clement Clark Moore.

There was no place in the world that I would rather have been this morning that at the Mansion, reading Christmas stories to the dozen or so residents with nowhere else to go. It was a wonderful gift to me, the Spirit of Christmas right in front of me.

Maria came with me, she is much-loved by many of the residents,  they love the art classes she conducts once a month. Mostly, Red and I go to the Mansion, but more and more, it has become something we share. She has a gift for this work. Her love and radiance lift them up.

At The Mansion, Christmas begins early, right after a special breakfast. The residents go into the Great Room where the Christmas tree is, and gift bags are distributed to each resident.

There is a calm over the Mansion, it  feels very different.

Under the tree are the gift bags are filled with candy, cookies, pins and buttons from the Army Of Good. Maria and I arrived just before 10 a.m. The residents who are away for the day, they will get them when they return later today or tomorrow.

We had talked about singing Christmas carols together,  but I sensed that the remaining residents could not or didn’t wish to sing this morning, they were in a reflective, even sad, mood.

They said they would love to sing on  Friday, a Karaoke sing-song is planned for 2:30. I understood how they feel. I’ll be there.

I had  two books with me,  Robert Frost: Stopping By The Woods On A Snowy Evening, illustrated by Susan Jeffers, and Family Christmas Treasures, A Celebration Of Art And Stories, a big beautiful book with gorgeous illustrations.

I first read the Frost poem to the dozen or so people gathered for the reading. Two of them cried at the beauty of the images in the poem. The others were listening intensely. I was shocked when Ben spoke, he has never spoken to me before, he is shy and looks away.

They were all listening intently, I sensed they were very happy that we came. Something about the Christmas stories and poems touched them.

I  read three stories, including “The Legend Of The Christmas Tree,” by Clement Clark Moore, “The Tree That Didn’t Get Trimmed,” by Christopher Morley, and “Kidnapped Santa Claus,” by L. Frank Baum.

I asked the people in the room to share their Christmas memories after each story, many did. Sylvie talked of her sleigh rides in Austria after World War II, her father was a diplomat. Alan remembered getting a rifle, and learning to hunt deer. Ruth remembered sneaking downstairs early to open her presents.

She got into trouble she said, I asked her if she did it again the next year, she smiled and said yes, she did. Madeline came up to me as we were leaving and talked about her Christmas in the Jewish Orphanage where she was raised after her father’s murder. She said the Jewish directors were good about letting the Christian children have their Christmas.

As I often say, I am not a Christian, and I do not worship Christ as a God, but I do follow him as a kind of disciple, his life and teachings have always inspired me. It is hard for me to see how people distort and ignore his teachings.

As I work to make sense out of the Christmas holiday – we are having the most beautiful Christmas this year – I do think of what it was that Christ might be doing on the morning of a holiday like this.

Of course, he would have been in a place like the Mansion,  he was passionate about the need for human beings to care for the poor, the needy and the forgotten. That was his message, that was the point of him.

It was a wonderful experience for me, a gift, to be at the Mansion this morning, if I had any doubts about it, they were dispelled by the smiles, faces and tears of the residents in room, listening to my stories.

I told them stories until I was hoarse, and we left, running a gauntlet of people coming over to hug us and thank us and ask  when we would be back.

Friday, I said, I’ll be back on Friday, Maria too.

Red and I might come even sooner, we usually come once or twice during the week. I asked Wayne if his new shoes fit, and they did, and I told Ruth I would be getting her a flannel bathrobe in a couple of days, when some donations come in.

Ruth said, as she always does, that she can pay me back in a few weeks when her Social Security check comes in. No need, I say, it’s taken care of. She does not ask again.

Leaving the Mansion this morning was bittersweet. A part of me was sad at leaving these people alone on Christmas for the rest of the day.  Another part of me was so grateful to them for helping me practice and understand what it is that Christmas is really about.

I felt the meaning of Christmas this morning, but as important, I felt the joy of celebrating it in this way.

I’m quickly coming to love my weekly readings at the Mansion. It’s different from the readings I’ve become familiar with as a book writer.

People fall asleep. They get up to eat a cookie. They walk out and come back. They walk out and forget to come back. They walk out and don’t want to come back. They talk to one another and shout questions about the stories I’m ready.

This was a very good day. I read a story about a police officer’s encounter with an abominable snowman in the nearby town of Whitehall, I read two elegant stories from a big Christmas table coffee book,

I brought socks for Allan and Madeline, a hat and stamps for Sylvie, new sneakers for Wayne, and three new bras for a shy resident. I brought cookies for the Mansion aides and some more buttons for them – the buttons are a huge hit. So are the stone carved spirit animals.

I distributed a box of Christmas stocking suffers from Colorado. I forget to bring one of my own books, there was some complaining about that. There is usually some complaining, the more they know me and love me, the more complaining i will here.

We had the most compelling talk about Christmas memories, and almost everyone opened up and joined in about memories of Christmas. Madeline remembered life in the Bronx during the Great Depression, no one had any money, but everyone manage to cook something or share something, she remembered the warm smells of Christmas.

Madeline remembered that her neighbors were so poor they used to feed their children and go hungry, two of the mothers in her neighborhood were found dead of starvation.

Her brother, a chemist, was jailed briefly for killing her father as he savagely abused her mother. Her brother was released from prison after 14 days and continued his career as a chemist. Madeline was placed in an orphanage where she lived until she was 17.

Other people remembered mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters long gone. Christmas is a mixed bag at the Mansion, a warm time, but also a difficult and melancholy time.

Maria and I will spend Christmas morning with the residents who have nowhere to go on Christmas Day, most of the residents celebrate the morning with family or relatives. I’ll read a Christmas story and exchange some gifts and we’ll try to do a Karaoke Christmas Carol sing-a-long.

Reading has become important to me. I choose one silly book, often a children’s book of rhymes and poetry, and a serious story I find online or in a book, and then I usually read a chapter from one of my donkeys – the residents ask for that. Right now, I’m reading Saving Simon.

I feel a great connection with the residents at this time of year, I don’t have a family to visit either. Maria and I will spend a peaceful and loving day together in the afternoon and evening. We will probably go see a movie and eat out.

A very quiet Christmas is a special day for us, we look forward to it. We have both found peace and happiness on Christmas by being together.

On Christmas Eve, we are  hosting a small dinner for two or three friends. I’m cooking, the recipe is two pizzas, one pear and goat cheese, the other chicken sausage and vegetables.

I do love to cook for Maria and for friends.

Alice loves Christmas, she loves to sing and she loves to dance.

She danced with Santa at the Mansion Christmas Party. She even danced with me during a boat ride to Lake George last year. Getting up and dancing is difficult for Alice now, but she is always game.

I feel Christmas more acutely at the Mansion than I do in other places. There’s no hype, marketing or special sales there, it isn’t a commercial holiday but a deeply personal one.

This holiday has a special meaning for them, it is a celebration in and of itself, it also speaks to the loss of their homes and many of their family members and friends.

Last night, several of the Mansion aides and I had a bit of a cry over the people who left the Mansion this year, or who died there.

For so many of the residents, it’s a time of loss and loneliness, one reason I want to be there on Christmas morning. The residents with families are usually gone for the day, the residents who are left behind are in need of some attention

If you wish to write to the Mansion residents over the holidays, here is a list of the residents who wish to receive your letters. I should caution you that many of the residents can’t write back, some will need help reading the letters. Please don’t assume you will hear back, although many of the residents try hard to respond.

I am not permitted to disclose sudden changes in their condition, or extreme illness, even death, without special permission. Sometimes I get it, sometimes I don’t.

The letters should be sent to The Mansion, 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. The names are Winnie, Ellen, Matt, Mary, Gerry, Sylvie, Diane, Alice, Jean, Madeline, Joan, Allan, Bill, Blanch, Helen, Barbara, Alanna, Peggie, Dottie, Tim, Ben, Art, Jacqueline, Wayne, Ruth.

I think Brenda would appreciate getting letters this Christmas.

Also, please consider keeping the Mansion Fund healthy.  This work depends on your support, and I did spend a lot of money over the holidays, for the residents and the Mansion aides. The fund is getting low.

Thanks for your support.

You can contribute by going to the Support The Army Of Good button at the bottom of every post, or  via Paypal, [email protected], or by mail: Jon Katz, Mansion Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. Donations in any amount are welcome, large and small.

And I thank you for making these small acts of great kindness possible.