On a visit to the nursing home where my mother resides, I was moved to bring the children's book, On The Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman, that a friend had just given me as a gift. I'm sure she had no idea how profound a gift this would be.

Initially I had intended to roam from room to room, tucking in some of the residents and offering a bedtime story. Instead, I greeted a group of my "friends" in the hallway, some engaged in remnants of conversation, others gazing around, minds in places I don't even dare guess. Some faces were smiling, some frowning, some simply staring at whatever attention catching object they spied. After the initial niceties, I asked if anyone would mind if I read a story, to which I received affirmative consensus.

Having taught in an early education classroom for 15 years, reading storybooks to groups was a familiar scenario. What wasn't as familiar was the utter, complete and rapt engagement that took place. Eyes sparkled, voices chuckled, smiles grew, comments abounded. There was agreement that indeed, "you are the one and only ever you".

This was so thrilling to me, I returned the next evening with several storybooks, which were passed to the residents after I'd read four aloud. People mouthed the words to themselves or read aloud, traced the illustrations with their fingers and shared pictures or words in the book to one another.

My mind raced with possibilities as I took this all in. Though not completely formed in my thoughts as to how this would serve the greater community of the elderly, I had no doubt that there is amazing opportunity to positively impact this segment of our population.

I was so touched by the way some of the people, who otherwise seemed unengaged, would become animated and interested, recalling stories of their own, asking questions about the story at hand and interacting with me and one another.

These events lead me to create Ageless-Sages, the first ever publisher of Picture Books for Elders. I invite you to view the digital slideshow of our premier book, Lavender Ladies.