September 14, 2008
Wenchie, Patron Saint of the Hot Dish
Yesterday morning, Husband and I made the move from Wenchietown to Floodsville. And so did everyone else in our neighborhood, town, county, state. So actually, Floodsville doesn’t look much different from Wenchietown, except for the overabundance of water.
Our neighbors across the street had to carry all the furniture out of their basement, but I think they beat the water and nothing got ruined. Our neighbors to the south had water gushing up through their basement toilet, just like last year. Our neighbors on the other side of them have six feet of water in their basement, just like last year.
The S.S. Wenchie, however, remains watertight, for three reasons. One, overhead plumbing. Whoever built this house was thinking. Two, my incredibly handy Husband installed TWO sump pumps. And three, the electricity is still on.
If the electricity goes, reasons one and two aren’t going to make much difference, and we will end up like our neighbors, just like last year – FUCKED.
As I stood in my kitchen yesterday, watching my neighbors carry buckets of water outside, watching Marion’s face as she simultaneously lived the current horror and re-lived last year’s horror, I racked my brain for something I could do.
They already had five people there cleaning up water. And really, once the toilet starts gushing, there’s only so much you can do before RUN!!! is the only viable option. Then the Lutheran inside of me spoke up and said:
Wenchie’s Inner Lutheran: They need a casserole.
PW: What.
WIL: A casserole! They need a casserole! STAT!
PW: A casserole isn’t going to plug up their toilet.
WIL: Lookit Marion. Does she look like she has the time and/or energy to fix her family the warm, balanced meal that they so desperately need after spending hours in cold, filthy water, trying to save their belongings?
PW: No.
WIL: Then get out the 9x13 pans, hon. It’s casserole time.
PW: I can’t do that. I’ll look retarded.
WIL: Why?
PW: Because they need soooooooo much more than a casserole right now!
WIL: But you don’t have super powers! You can’t make the water go away!
PW: I know.
WIL: But you can make a casserole.
PW: It just seems lame.
WIL: Don’t underestimate the power of comfort food! Where would you be without comfort food?!
PW: In size six jeans.
WIL: Don’t mock comfort food. The whole foundation of Lutheranism rests squarely on a good hot dish. You just can’t argue with chicken, rice and Miracle Whip.
Husband: You know, we should really bring some food to our neighbors.
PW: Really? That wouldn’t be weird?
H: No! It’s what neighbors do! Especially if they’re Lutheran.
PW: Okay!
H: Find a good casserole recipe and make me a shopping list – I’ll run to Jewel.
PW: I’ll make some chocolate chip cookies while you’re gone!
WIL: Oh, sure, you listen to him.
PW: Zip it, ya Garrison Keeler wannabe.
So I made four Kentucky Chicken & Wild Rice Casseroles.
And yes, they really did have Miracle Whip in them.
Comments
I am so glad I raised a wonderful, Lutheran girl, who knows what it takes to calm peoples nerves, let them know someone is thinking of them and to fill their bellies. We (her Daddy and I) were recepients of the wonderful chicken casserole and it brightened our day. The rice - the chicken - the water chestnuts, and------------------ the chocolate chip cookies. We thought it best to share with Spikette and family, since they were coping with a lot of water and drums that had to be moved to dry places. It was magnificent and with the glasses of wine I drank with it - words can't express my gratitude.So we still have some puddles in our basement, with as long as we can keep our tummies fromgrowling, we are fine. Love to All, Mommie Dearest
Posted by: Mommie Dearest at September 15, 2008 06:17 PM
I believe the term is "the Jewels" over by dare! We did the neighbors laundry from the flood, they cooked dinner! Floods suck! I'm sick of smelling like bleach! garrance How many glasses of wine did Mommie Dearest have??????????????
Posted by: garrance at September 15, 2008 10:26 PM