My brother and sister are snowed in up in Michigan. With the cold weather settling in and the snow piling up, I found myself thinking about snowed-in essentials — not the usual ones, but the kind that matter to the people you love.
So I did what any good sister does — I checked in.
Not about the obvious things. When people talk about snowed-in essentials, they often think of food and supplies, but comfort can look different depending on the person — and the people — you’re caring for.
I asked, “Do you have everything you need?”
And by everything, I meant his everything.
My brother is 65. He’s older than me. He has a learning disability, and at this point in life, I’m not here to change him — he’s the perfect big-brother protector. I’m here to make sure he’s comfortable. I take my job very seriously.
So the list looks a little different.
Cigarettes.
Beer.
Batteries for the remote control.
An endless supply of snacks.
Enough DVDs to last through the snow.
And socks.
Always socks.
I don’t care what season it is.
I don’t care how many pairs he owns.
According to my brother, he never has enough socks. Many of them end up in that dark hole that exists between the washer and dryer. You know, the sock monster — in goes a pair, out comes a single sock.
People can get bent out of shape about some of these things. I get it. But this isn’t about approval — it’s about reality. At 65, he knows what he likes. And at this point, my job isn’t to rewrite his habits. It’s to make sure that if he’s snowed in, he has what matters to him.
Comfort looks different for everyone.
Sometimes it’s soup and candles.
Sometimes it’s books and quiet.
And sometimes it’s DVDs, snacks, batteries, and yes — socks.
Especially socks.
