The Rev. Debbie Earthowl presided over Connie Martell’s Memorial Service at the Mansion this morning. She said Connie was now in the arms of God, where she wished to be. I gave a talk describing how Connie had launched the Army Of Good and transformed my life and the lives of others.
Several of the residents talked about Connie’s generosity and encouragement of others, Red sat by Rev. Earthowl for most of the service. It was simple, touching, humbling. Thanks for the flowers and cards you sent the residents, and for the Christmas gifts and decorations that have begun arriving.
The residents who would like to receive your cards and messages are Robert, Allan, Sylvie, Jean, John Z., Tim, Ben, Art, Alanna, Peggie, Ellen, Joan, Brenda, Jane, Alice, Madeline, Mary, Barbara, Bill, John K., Diane, Helen, Winnie, Jean, Dorothy, Ruth, Kenneth, Gerry, Guerda. You can write them c/o The Mansion, 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.
Our friend Susan Popper came up to visit us and to speak to my Writing Workshop Saturday morning. Friday afternoon, she came with Red and I to visit the Mansion. We went into the Activity Room where Madeline and Joan were sitting on a couch.
Susan dropped right down and started talking, she had a gift for listening and talking, I would have thought she’d known them for years.
Joan has some memory problems and it takes some patience and understanding to talk with her, she is very sweet and open. It was touching to see these three on the couch. Madeline is from New York City and Susan lives on Long Island. They had a lot of common ground. Susan is special to us.
Here is another bit of good for the Army Of Good, should you choose to accept it.
Red and I looked up and one of the aides shouted, “here comes trouble, “the Three Wild Women Of the Mansion.” Jean, Alice and Mary were astonished, Jean asked, “could they mean us?” We did, these three are a powerful presence at the Mansion, two of them – Jean and Alice – have been my dates a number of times, we have even danced together.
I am told they are Bingo fiends.
Sometimes, they walk the halls of the Mansion. Best get out of the way. They do stop for Red.
I learned today that the Mansion has two “bingo nights,” Sunday and Wednesday. Some of the residents came to me and asked for help, as there are few – sometimes no – prizes for the bingo winners.
They need some prizes – simple but fun things – crossword puzzles, large print magazines and story books, stickers, glitzy necklaces, small stuffed things, stocking stuffers and party favors (no candy), beginner magazines and books. The activity budget is low at the end of the year. Maybe we can help.
I should point out that many of the Mansion residents have vision, hearing, or some memory issues, so I shoot for small and simple and colorful gifts, charms, stories. When I learned about the need for prizes, I went right over to the Dollar Store just down the road and got about $45 worth of fun stuff to get them through the next couple of weeks.
I like our local Dollar Store, it reminded me of the old Woolworth’s, all kinds of stuff in there.
Many of you are already sending Christmas gifts and decorations, which are very much appreciated, they are being stored for the Christmas party so everyone will have something under the tree. I’ve been invited and plan to attend with Red and Maria.
I found many perfect prizes in the Dollar Store – fake glasses that glow, animal sticker books, short and illustrated stories and all kinds of small and simple puzzle and crossword books, balloons, coloring books, party favors, some silly hats, picture books, four small stuffed animals.
If anyone can help with bingo prizes, that would be great. Please send them to Julie Smith, Activity Director, The Mansion, 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. These should be fun, colorful, simple and inexpensive. No clothes or sweets, please.
Thanks to those sending paints and pictures, we have covered the bare walls of the Mansion, and have no more room, thanks.
Only six or seven residents play bingo, but they love the game and are faithful to it. It means a lot to them and is one of the few evening activities possible at the Mansion.
Some prizes would make for fun and some excitement. If you send anything, please mark it “For Bingo Prizes.” And thanks for already responding to Christmas. The staff is getting excited.
If you wish to help with the Bingo prices, you can send them to Bingo Prizes, The Mansion, 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.
As I said, I got enough for the next couple of weeks. And I don’t wish to overburden anyone. The Three Wild Woman appreciate it.
The updated names list of the Mansion. Some residents are new, some do not wish to get mail. Robert, Allan, Sylvie, Jean, John Z. Tim, Ben, Art, Alanna, Peggie, Ellen, Joan, Brenda, Jane, Connie, lice, Madeline, Mary, Barbara, Bill, John K., Diane, Helen, Winifred, Jean, Dorothy, Ruth, Ken, Gerry Guerda.
If you wish to support the Mansion Fund, you can donate to my post office box, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge,N.Y., 12816, or via Paypal, [email protected].
We went to Connie’s room – she is not at the Mansion now – and saw that her new chair had been delivered. Red and I came into the room and Red jumped up into the chair, something I had not seen him do before. It’s a neat chair, simple and functional I believe Connie will find it comfortable when and if she returns to the Mansion.
Red is very close to Connie, and always goes directly to her room. She has never seen or used the chair, so I don’t really know why Red jumped up, he is trained to never go on furniture without permission.
I bought the chair from Bennington Furniture in Vermont, it cost $799, but the store gave us a $100 discount. The chair is a Guardsman Cornflower Lift Chair, and I wanted you to see what your donations bought, as I always try to do. There was a $39 delivery charge and $54.39 in sales tax, plus a five year plan guaranteeing the fabric and the machinery that runs the lift. The total was $831.39.
The chair didn’t arrive in time for Connie. She was taken to Samaritan Hospital in Troy, N.Y. on Friday, and on Tuesday, she was transferred to the Wesley Rehabilitation Cetnter, 131 Lawrence Street, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 12886. It is not clear how long she will be there, or if she will be able to return to the Mansion.
She does wish to receive letters and message.
Everyone at the Mansion was asking after Connie and hoping she returns soon and gets well.
They are holding her room for her until all of that is clear.
Federal regulations require that residents of a Medicaid assisted care facility be mobile and require a minimum of medical care. All of the furniture/air conditioners/equipment that I purchase to the Mansion is given to the Mansion, not the residents.This is so it can be used and re-used if a resident leaves, gets sick, or dies.
Connie is strong and determined, she has beaten the odds before. She might very well get back, the Mansion is where she wants to be.
Today, agreed, with your assistance, to support two activities for the Mansion. One is an outing to the Hubbard Hall Christmas Breakfast held on December 9. I bought eight tickets for $96. I’m going along to help.
I also told Julie Smith, the activities director there, that I would fund the hiring of an Irish band in March for St. Patrick’s Day. It will cost between $200 and $300. I am also asking, if it is possible, that the Army Of Good send Christmas decorations, favors, gifts, wreaths or other Christmas messages for the Mansion’s annual Christmas Party.
Our hope is that every resident has something for them under the tree, as happened last year, a celebration that shocked and delighted the residents and staff. The gifts convinced the residents that there were people out there who cared about them.
Everyone is still talking about it. You can send your Christmas gifts to The Mansion, 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.
Your letters, photos and messages are perhaps the most important gifts you give. I have a new and updated list of the Mansion residents who wish to receive your letters, messages and photographs:
We had a wild and lively Halloween Party at the Mansion today. Madeline won for most colorful costume, the Army of Good sent much appreciated hats, lei’s, cards, pins, cut-outs, napkins, cookies and muffins, flowers and Halloween decorations. There was also a band playing music.
“This is so wonderful for us,” she said, “this food, this music, these wonderful decorations, it means so much to us, I don’t know if anyone can imagine.” I think they can, I said, they do it all the time. And I bet they will do it again for Christmas, the residents are still talking about that party, and they don’t usually remember that far back.
In fact, one member of the AOG has already sent a box of Christmas decorations and gifts.
The party went on for two hours, the costumes were pretty inventive, I will put some photos of them up later this evening. They had a lot of fun, and they reveled in the favors, games and treats you all sent them from all over the country. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Madeline is right, I can’t really even describe how much your gifts and cards and letters have meant to these people, they were happy and engaged, it was great fun.
I will provide an updated residents list later in the week. For now, it’s Jean, Ellen, Mary, Gerry, Sylvie, Jane, Diane, Alice, Jean, Madeline, Joan, Allan, William, Ruth, John K., Helen, Connie, Brother Peter, Guerda, Robert, Shirley, Alanna, Barbara, Peggie, Dorothy, Art, Brenda, John Z.
You can write them c/o The Mansion, 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.
I don’t wish to overburden people, the holidays are coming up. I think it best to focus on Christmas, I’ll arrange for some Thanksgiving lunch celebration during that week. I’d love to see them get the wonderful Christmas they got last year, with gifts under the tree for everyone.
That was the beginning of something special, one of the first major initiatives of the Army of Good, and a clear signal to the residents that they were not alone. If anyone wishes to send some Thanksgiving decorations, that would be wonderful, but I think it might be meaningful to focus on Christmas, I don’t want to ask too much of people.
The residents will never forget it, it tells them what they most need to know and hear – they have not been forgotten.
