Hospital Food

My mom spent a lot of time in the hospital. She was sometimes there for weeks on end. The hospital food would really get to her. We would sneak stuff in to her all the time like Arbys and Wendys. One thing I remember about my dad was that he would prepare a whole meal at home. Sweet corn, steak, tomatoes, salad, chicken, all prepared really well. Then he would put it on a paper plate and cover it with another plate. He would put tape all around it to keep the heat in. He would pack everything, salt and pepper, napkins, silverware...nothing was left behind. The cold stuff would go in coolers. We would place it all in the car and drive it the hour and 10 minutes from Toledo to Ann Arbor where she was. She was always so appreciative of that yummy outside food. It was my dad's mission...find a way to make her happy. Even though she had cancer or heart disease or lung fluid or whatever disease that week and she was stuck in a stupid hospital, he could help her find a little corner of normal. I love that he served her in that way.