Hotel Dauphin

Margie was unsteady on her feet this afternoon and a bit more confused than usual. She put her jacket on, forgetting the waist pack her daughter likes her to wear with her phone in it. I brought her the waist pack, and she struggled into it, over her jacket. She put her keys in her pocket and then couldn’t find them. I said softly, they’re in your pocket. She patted her pocket and smiled, but before we got to the elevator, she said she’d have to go back and get her keys. I said they’re in your pocket. Pat, smile. When we got to the first floor, “I left my keys.” No it’s OK, I said gently, they’re in your pocket. “I’m sorry my mind is unreliable.” I said it’s only natural to be forgetful when you’re 98. “Who's 98? Me? No. Are you sure?”

Once we’d ordered coffee and were settled in, I asked her where she’d like to travel today. Camp Mikan? (Big smile.) Jones Beach? (Bigger smile.) The Hotel Dauphin? (Two hands clapping.) 

“Oh the Hotel Dauphin!” Margie almost sang the words, hands on her heart. “That place changed my life.”

Back in 2019, Margie told me all about Biosophy and how it changed her life. She remembered more names and details then, when she was only 93. I asked her today to tell me what it was about Biosophy that made such a difference.

“Well, when I walked through those doors, I was in control of my own life for the first time. It was so different from my mother’s values. She was always judging people. Biosophy taught us that we’re all one, we’re in this together, so we should try to help people, not judge them. I think that was the biggest thing. Not judging others by their clothes, or their class, or how much money they had.”

I asked what she remembers about the Hotel Dauphin.

“Everything. I can still smell the lobby. It was like expensive perfume. The elevator had a metallic smell. When you got to the fourth floor, where  Biosophy was, the hallway had a certain smell, and the dining room of course, had its own smell. It makes my heart pound to remember it. How my life was changing. How it changed. It was wonderful.”