Search Results for: bingo night at the mansion

We kicked off the Mansion Homecoming Celebration at lunch-time Friday, Activities Director Julie Harlin and I went over to the local Chinese restaurant and brought back $202 worth of Chinese food – rolls, shrimp dishes, dumplings, crab rangoon, beef and vegetable dishes. The restaurant gave us free soda and bags of crispy noodles.

The residents got to vote on what kind of food they most wanted as a homecoming feast, and they unanimously chose Chinese food. Julie and Charlie, the Mansion chef, cut the egg rolls and dumplings into small chunks and Charlie cooked alternative dishes for people who didn’t want Chinese food or had allergy issues. Charlie knows exactly what each of the residents likes and doesn’t like and eats and doesn’t eat. He also knows who is a diabetic and who had food allergies.

This afternoon, a cake and some music. Then I think everybody – myself included – needs some quiet. Tomorrow, my Writing Workshop students are all giving readings at the Battenkill Bookstore at 2 p.m.   I’m very much looking forward to that.

It was a great and happy feast, we brought fortune cookies and cakes as well. Julie organized a solve-the-riddle contest and I helped serve the food and clean up. The residents seem relieved and are calming down, several are still grappling with some emotional aftermath, but the Mansion staff is racing around – I call them the “Love Cavalry” – organizing rooms and calming nerves.

One resident is still confused about where she is and keeps taking walks inside of the building; another is convinced all of her clothes are missing, her dresser was moved across the room. One of the Danforth residents is  having nightmares and crying fits.

It is amazing to see how quickly the staff tunes into these issues and handles them with love and confidence. I keep saying this, but the care and attention there is inspiring to me.

I rarely call their attention to any problem they aren’t already aware of. They are diligent and possessive of almost supernatural instincts for trouble or problem.

We’re all getting back into our rhythms.

Sylvie has lost her stamps of course, and Peggie broke her wristwatch. Art is very happy with his new watch , and Kate needs some clothes. Ruth asked for some pink pajamas. Wayne wants some books to read. Tonight is Bingo Night, it will be good to have the full crew on hand, I beefed up our prize bag, loading it with Valentine’s Day cards and presents.

I feel normalcy peering around the corner, but not yet willing to show himself. The Love Cavalry is on the march.

I see it will take a week or so for things to get back to normal. The Army Of Good has sprung into action after I wrote about our toiletries emergency, soap and shampoo is on the way. The Mansion aides love Dove products, but are happy for any products. Some of you have suggested a Wist List also, and I have passed this along to the Mansion staff, they are thinking about it. I like it as a long-term solution, I think they will also.

I have to ask about things like the Wish List, it’s not up to me. I also know that soap and shampoo is something people like to send, it makes them feel good and useful. I suspect by Tuesday or Wednesday, there will be enough soap and shampoo to last a good while.

In the meantime, I know of at least 60 bars of soap heading to the Mansion from all over the country (I don’t know about shampoo) right now, and most people don’t tell me what they are sending. Please don’t worry about sending too much, all of it will be stored and used. And thanks. If a Wish List is posted, I’ll let you know.

Some of you are asking if you can send me money for soap and have me buy some, and yes, I’ll be happy to do that. If you wish to contribute that way, just send a donation to Jon Katz, Mansion Soap, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816 or via Paypal, [email protected]. Just mention soap in the message box.

When I walked through the Mansion the other day, I couldn’t quite imagine how all of the work would be done in time for Monday’s scheduled return of the displaced and evacuated residents.

When I walked through the Mansion today after our emergency Bingo game, I am certain all of the Mansion refugees will be coming home. Their ordeal is in its last day, the Mansion staff has been scrambling day and night to get all of the rooms clean and ready.

A team of construction workers laid down the carpet, put up all of the ceiling tiles, touched up the rebuilt walls and wallboard. The Mansion smells like a new building and in many ways, looks like one. I’m not a state health department regulator, but I think this miracle has taken hold.

Pending state approval, the Mansion staff expects the residents return tomorrow. The displaced residents were scattered – some went to their families, some went to the Danforth Adult Care Center, I’m sure a few will not be returning, that’ s just how things happen when there are disruptions like this.

I saw the residents at the Danforth almost every single day, and it is a very different facility than the Mansion, I know how hard a time it was for many of them. The staff helped, and so did the Army Of Good. We got them just about everything we could think of – hats, flowers, puzzles, books, DVD players, movies, paper crafts, readings.

We tended to the residents left behind at the Mansion and the ones evacuated. They will need some tending this week. We are planning a Chinese Takeout Homecoming Celebration on Tuesday or Wednesday. I imagine they will need some help settling in and calming down, and slipping back into the routines that are so important to them.

The staff is worn out, excited and stressed. It was an ordeal for everyone. I hope it’s over, I’ll be at the Mansion in the morning to check on things, and to offer some reading stories to the residents as they re-adjust.

This hard work has taken a month, but it seems to have really come together, thanks to too many people to mention.

Construction workers volunteered to work through the weekend to get the Mansion ready for the return of the residents, hopefully on Monday. The crews are confident they can finish on time, before the state comes for its final inspection.

Tomorrow, Maria and I are going over in the morning to help occupy the residents who are still there. We’re doing Bingo, some art ideas and I’m bringing stories to read to the residents. The Mansion staff and aides are working day and night to get the rooms and laundry ready. It’s  beehive in there, they will be working through the night.

Everybody wants to get the residents back home as soon as possible. Looks like a photo finish to me.

Six or seven residents remained behind in the Mansion over the past month, their rooms were in a separate wing of the facility undamaged by the flooding and other damage. They needed attention as much as the displaced residents did, they were sometimes lonely, disoriented and bored. They loved the stories I read them and our suddenly intimate Friday night bingo games, rarely more than two or three people.

They were nice games, everybody got to win, usually more than once, we brought in special prizes for the residents and we ended up joking, singing and rhyming together. They even let me read my acting class monologue to them.

Tonight was our last Little Bingo game, we should have a full house next Friday. They are all excited about the other residents returning, there is a family feeling about the Mansion, with the usual squabbles, misunderstandings and good times.

I have to say that Maria and  I enjoyed this Little Bingo games, there was something especially warm and satisfying about them. I will miss them.

It was something of a hellish month for the Mansion Assisted Care Facility, for the residents, the staff and the families. The plan is to bring the residents back on Monday, pending the approval of state officials.

I got a look at the work that has been done over the past four weeks, and I was surprised and impressed. The Mansion is looking younger and spiffier.

The living quarters are, for all practical purposes, new.

Many of the rooms have new walls and ceilings. There is a new elevator coming online, many of the walls and ceilings have been rebuilt, there are new carpets everywhere, and there is a new roof to keep out water and dampness.

Lots of the rooms have been painted, there are new ceiling tiles and new lights.

This Mansion is warmer, dryer, brighter.

Friday night, Bingo night for us, there were still workmen crawling all over the place laying carpet and painting the new wallboards. They do say everything happens for a reason, and perhaps the reason for this is to give the venerable building a bright new facelift.

The Mansion has asked staffers to come tomorrow – Saturday – to get the rooms in shape, if the state officials approval, vans will head out to bring the residents back home.

The staff has been hauling the puzzles and books (thanks Army Of Good) that have sustained the Mansion refugees,  back to the Mansion. Nothing is official until the state regulators say it is, but confidence is running hight about a Monday return.

On Tuesday, I’m heading over to a local Chinese restaurant to pay for food for a celebration to either take place Tuesday or Wednesday. The Army Of Good is funding Chinese takeout at the resident’s request. We’re still looking for a band.

It was great to see so much work being down on the Mansion. For all their troubles, this is a rebirth, not a death sentence. This is a major investment in special place that knows how to care for people. I’ll try to make myself useful tomorrow, if I don’t get tossed out.

Thanks for your help. It is better to do good than argue about it, this week saw a lot Practical Good, small acts of great kindness that made a difference to some frightened and confused people. Much love to you.