Midwestern Crisis Response Team Activate!

So the last week has been more than a bit nutty. Good and bad blurred together and it's been a lot for me to process. One of the funnier things to come out of this whole experience was the reaffirmation that being from the Midwest gives me a warm fuzzy feeling when I see how my fellow WI kids all pulled together to help our friend, and more importantly, the way in which we are driven to help.

Upon sharing the news of Mr. Man's attack and hospitalization with PolitiChica we realized we had a similar response mechanism. What should we do? The answer: Cook. PolitiChica was ready to break out the casserole and hotdish makings and I was ready to start baking a cake. Why? Because that is what you do to help those in pain. You feed them and care for them so they can focus on what is important. That can be grief around a funeral, healing after an accident, whatever the situation calls for. Mr. Man's broken jaw and the upheaval around where his family was staying made feeding the problem a bit tricky, but the sentiment was what counted. We wanted to help ease the pain and offer comfort, mind you in the form of food, but that is just what we were raised to do.

The practical aspects of our Midwestern minds came out too. I have this thing about flowers, I hate to give them. They are often expensive and, well, they die. The only time I will gladly give flowers or donate towards them is for a funeral. For some reason in that circumstance of death and remembrance flowers seem right, but otherwise I'm not a big fan. With this whole Mr. Man situation I didn't want to give flowers. He couldn't really have them in his room, and, well, they die! Mr. Man was upset because he thought his watch was stolen. Practical, happy, something useful...so PolitiChica and I got a watch. Mr. Man was thrilled and it was a nice feeling. Another WI friend was trying to think of a gift for Mr. Man and also wanted to avoid flowers. He is also focusing on the practical and kind categories for gifts. We want to give something, but usefulness is our guiding light.

The Midwestern Crisis Response Team (MCRT for short) has now moved onto what we can do for our friend once he is released from the hospital. His jaw is wired shut for the next 4-8 weeks, so that means all sustenance will come through a straw. Yum, yum, fun, fun, liquid diet! That means, our goal is to switch back to feeding the situation so he can focus on healing. Soup recipes that can be blended are being searched out, ideas for nutrient additives to help Mr. Man (who is very tiny already) keep on some weight and get healing nutrition are being researched. In short we are in full care giving mode. No MCRT member wants to smother Mr. Man, but we are ready and willing to do what has to be done and that makes my heart feel lighter than it has in a while.

It also gives me comfort to know that even though I am far away from my home base and family, the MCRT will be there for me too. This post is not a slam on any other region of the US. I know warm fuzzy folks on the East and West coasts and Southern Hospitality is legendary. However, to me, the Midwestern ethos is very special and unique and I wouldn't switch my upbringing or my Midwestern people for anything!