A couple of weeks ago, Bonny wrote some letters… they were so good! (And so inspiring!) I thought it might be fun to write a letter or two this week! Thank you Bonny for inspiring me! (I see that she wrote some more letters this week as well!)
Dear Neighbor’s With the Holiday Lights:
I really enjoyed seeing your Halloween lights in October during Sherman’s Evening Constitutional! They were just so fun but I was slightly confused to see that you went from Halloween to Christmas overnight and I thought I’d take a moment to introduce you to the joys that are November (you know, that month between October and December…) November is full of really lovely days! We celebrate Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving Day. For the rest of the month it is all about savoring Autumn… leaves changing color as well as cooler days and nights. It just seems, well, commercial to be putting up and turning on your holiday lights on November 1st. I completely understand wanting to put holiday lights out while the weather is mild, but you know that you don’t have to actually turn them on immediately don’t you? Just a suggestion for next year!
Signed,
Your Neighbor who loves November
My Dearest Big Foot,
News Flash! Sock One is DONE! I hope to begin Sock Two later today. I think it will go a bit faster than the first sock because I seem to have more knitting bandwidth these days… which is a very good thing!
Love,
Your Knitting Half
And finally this week I really need to pen this letter (or ten) in reality… not just here in the blogosphere!
Dear Mental Health Crisis Centers of Michigan:
Yes, I realize that Crisis is a singular term… but really? Do you honestly think that a person having a mental health crisis has just one single problem? I did look after talking with all of you for any Mental Health Crises Centers of Michigan and found them to be a non-existent entity. You gave me a Mental Health Crisis after spending days calling and talking to therapists at your facilities only to be told that my loved one had “too many crises” and that they could not help. It made me understand in a profound way why we have so many homeless people… they too are probably in the crises category and deemed “incapable of help.” I knew that our mental health system was woefully lacking, but I did not truly understand how broken it is until this week. Despite your lack of help in even giving me other alternative places to call… by some miracle we stumbled into a place that would take my sister, no thanks to you at all. In fact, you all told me there was no place in Michigan that would take her. You really missed the mark on that one, unless you think Holland is really The Netherlands.
Signed,
The Woman who called you all this week
That is all I have for this week! Have a good weekend and perhaps write a letter or two! See you all back here on Monday.
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from Pexels
I am SO glad you were able to find somewhere to assist your sister. <3
Just think, when you make a "standard" sized sock, it will FLY off your needles. 😉
Love the holiday lights, too, but November 1 does seem just a little early.
Enjoy your weekend!!!
I’m so glad to read your letters, Kat! We have an interesting mix of holiday lights in the neighborhood, red and green, white, and there are still many Halloween lights. Big Foot’s sock looks great, and I bet the second one will go even better with your regained knitting bandwidth. And I can only imagine how depressing it must be to be told by the agencies that are supposed to be providing help that there is no help. I’m so glad you found a place and hope it can provide the help and stability your sister needs. “Sorry, you are limited to just one mental health crisis” would be almost laughable if it wasn’t so very sad.
I didn’t think I had anything to say in letters this week, but when I sat down to write, they just came pouring out and felt cathartic. I hope you find that to be true, too.
Oh Kat! Your last letter is a gut punch and heart wrenching. I’m so glad you found a place that can assist your sister. I hope you can have some peaceful days now knowing she is getting the help she needs. Big Foot looks great! And Holiday Lights – Oy Vey! I’ve already seen the blow-up things in yards…snowmen, reindeer, etc. Too Early!!! And the stores are not helping matters.
I’m really glad you found a place for your sister. Sending you all my best wishes for a easier path forward!
I’m so glad to hear you found a place to help your sister. I really wonder what happens to all the people who have multiple needs and don’t have someone advocating for them. Our system is clearly broken!
Hooray for a finished sock! And I hear you on the holiday decorating, but I long ago just gave up because my complaining doesn’t seem to have stopped anyone.
We put Christmas stuff in our bedroom on Tuesday but I won’t do outside lights or lights in the windows until after Thanksgiving. I’m all about You Do You when it comes to this, though. I’m so sorry that you had to gain first hand knowledge of our broken mental health system. I’m glad to hear you did find someplace for your sister, though.
mental health care in this country is terrible. I pray that your loved one is getting the help he/she needs. I also love November but I’m okay with Christmas lights if they are there.
I love the letters idea and yours are so well done. I am so thankful you found support for your sister. Mental health care in this country is a mess. I am another person who enjoys November. That sock looks warm and toasty.
We don’t realize how broken our “systems” are . . . until we need them. I’m so glad you were able to find a helping place for your sister, and I’m so sorry you had to go through so much frustration to find it! Your sister is quite lucky to have a persistent advocate in her corner (sadly, not everyone does) — because it really does take persistence when it comes to this kind of stuff. XO
(And although it does seem too soon for Christmas, I kinda don’t mind seeing lights out there in the dark of my neighborhood. . . )
I am so sorry you had to deal with this and got no help from Those Who Are There To Help. My husband worked in in-patient mental health; the closest place with mental health beds is the Twin Cities (where he works), 1-1/2 hours away. The community hospital that is a bit closer stopped accepting out-of-county patients a couple years ago. There might be beds in Eau Claire (1+ hours away) or Madison (4 hours away). Good luck to you and your sister — she is lucky to have you.