Lovering H.

Barbara, afflicted with Cerebral Palseysince birth, is the sweetest and most caring of my clients. She exudes love. Hired in 2014 by Barbara's sister-in-law to be Barbara's Companion, I prepared meals, ran erranD's, and assisted Barbara with her Medical appointments and her personal care. I still work for Barbara. We meet for lunch on Sundays?

This past year I lived in the delightful company of Betty Messier, 83, on Lake Wampanoag in Coventry, CT. I gardened with Mrs. Messier, prepared her meals, escorted her to appointments, shopped for her groceries and clothing, was her partner at afternoon bridge, and enjoyed many small conversations with her over 'elevenses' and tea. A gracious and charming woman living in a large and formal house, she was surrounded by family who were her frequent weekend guests.

I prepared Mrs. Strong's meals, gardened with her, shopped for Penury Hall groceries, ran errands, greeted guests, advised guests on local restaurants, galleries, yacht charter, made guest reservations, guided guests to local trails and other natural attractions, prepared guest breakfasts, and maintained both Mrs. Strong's and Penury Hall's financial accounts.

I provided Mr. Allison, an 82 year old widow, with cash flow projections (his wife had been the family accountant), hired his housekeeper and groundsman, paid his bills, and gathered the information for his accountant for the preparation of his annual IRS returns. In addition, I prepared his meals, shopped for his clothes and groceries, kept his Netflix queue (he was a film buff), purchased for him political best sellers (he was a 12-year elected member of the NH General Court) assisted him in his role as host at teas and luncheons (he had been a community volunteer), escorted him to appointments and social events, reviewed with him the daily editions of the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times (Mr. Allison was a former editor at Business Week), and otherwise kept him company.

After the death of Mr. Allison in 2010, I lived with the unusually beautiful and magnetic Phyllis Johnson Paradis, in Bass Harbor, Mount Desert Island, Maine. Mrs. Paradis, the matriarch of an old Philadelphia family, had summered for many years on Great Gott's Island, off the coast of Maine, but had settled in nearby Bass Harbor on Mount Desert Island, to be near medical care. A genuine American hero, Mrs. Paradis, 92, was one of one thousand women aviators who volunteered to fly United States Army fighter and bomber aircraft on delivery flights during World War II. Although Mrs. Paradis saw no enemy action, she and her fellow Women's Air Service Pilots were "fly girls" no less skilled and daring than their male equivalents, i.e., WWII fighter and bomber pilots who flew combat missions in the European and South Pacific theaters. In recognition of her service, Congress recently awarded Mrs. Paradis the Congressional Medal of Honor. I maintained a 24-hour responsible presence at her house, assisted her in her shopping for groceries and clothing, assisted her in the preparation of light meals, and drove her to medical appointments and to lunch. My greatest contribution to her well-being was the time I spent persuading her to accept the installation of a pacemaker.

Mrs. Willa Richardson McGowan, an 82-year old widow, lived at the Richardson Homestead, a former dairy farm on the north shore of Great Pond in the Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine. Although in good physical health, Mrs. McGowan suffered from memory disorders, aggravated by the loss of family and friends. I organized for her a social life, i.e., a daily framework of regularly scheduled breakfasts or luncheons in town and luncheons and suppers at her house with relatives and friends. In the management of her small estate, I hired repairs to the furnace, to the septic system, and to the sills. In addition, I kept her household accounts and coordinated with her housekeeper on the completion of household tasks.

I learned most of my companion skills during the twelve years I lived at Burnham Farm in Dunbarton, New Hampshire, in the employ of Lincoln Webster Burnham, who was himself good company. By 1989, Mr. Burnham had retired from both his produce business and his dairy business. At the age of 82, he was an active gardener and enjoyed a small career as a public speaker. I was his personal assistant. In that role I kept his speaking calendar, researched for him local history, and wrote his speeches--not from the whole cloth, but from information in his memoirs. In addition, I drove Mr. Burnham, a bachelor, to his speaking engagements and to church, accompanied him to his social engagements, planned his 'at home' social events, shopped for his clothes and groceries, and, after his housekeeper left for the day, prepared his evening meal. In 1995, after Mr. Burnham suffered a stroke, I hired a young man to assist him with his morning care, and, as his health declined (he died in 2001), added assistance as needed. My last effort on his behalf was to arrange for his funeral.