Sunday, December 17th, 2006...6:29 pm
power hungry
“Do you have power?” That was the question of the weekend around here.
This past Thursday night we were hit with a wind storm. Much hype preceded it, and I assume much followed. Our power was out for 53 hours, so we missed seeing that news story. I read today there were gusts around 48mph here on the Isle of Bainbridge and over 100mph at Mt. Rainier. On Monday and Wednesday our power also went out. Practice runs, I guess. This past week I think our power has been more off than on. It finally jolted back on at 3am Sunday. Hallelujah!
My Alaska-born DH really shines in these emergencies, thanks to his online relationship with Emergency Essentials and bunkers A, B, and C in our basement. He had us as about as prepared as anyone could be. Our super-powered, Pentagon-approved generator kept our lights, stove, oven, xmas tree, stereo, and mostly importantly, tv, all running. We had a kerosene heater going to warm us. We even hosted a dinner party for 5 adults and 3 kids, for those generator-impaired among us. So many things you take for granted. You realize what you need for comforts when they are gone! What we did not have was running water, hot or cold. Try 53 hours of that! It’s really not as fun as when you are wearing a backpack and marching up or down a hill.
While attending a 4 year old’s birthday party at the end of the weekend, after the electricity came back, I was happy to be fresh from a hot shower. I watched the crazy little ones run all around. Lost in thought over what Kid did over the weekend (this, a prelude of posts to come), I was realizing how little impact I had in my child’s behavior there at the party. Okay, maybe at home, too, okay, maybe everywhere. Just then, someone leaned in and asked, “do you have power?”
Looking at my Kid, I started to say no, aren’t 3 year old’s hard?….but when I looked at this mom’s face, I realized she was just talking about electricity. “Oh, that power? Yeah, I have that kind,” I said wistfully. I wish there were a switch for the other kind.
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5 Comments
December 18th, 2006 at 9:10 am
so funny! I would love to have read about your reaction when you opened the door to Meryl’s room and saw all of that!!?! I always wonder how other mom’s handle that stuff because I know I don’t handle it appropriately. I should be doing so much right now to catch up on my suspended life but I’m reading about your life! Such a treat, though. Put a camera in Meryl’s room. That would throw her for a loop wouldn’t it? That you could see her through a closed door
December 18th, 2006 at 4:35 pm
I can’t write those types of words on the internet for the whole world to see! I am sure your response is “appropriate” given the awful things they do! Okay, maybe it is “rational” or “a logical consequence”. Isn’t parenting fun?! Meryl would love a camera once she figured it out. She’d probably perform as she destroys….adding a certain flair to her motions….
December 18th, 2006 at 7:35 pm
“My Alaska-born DH really shines in these emergencies, thanks to his online relationship with Emergency Essentials and bunkers A, B, and C in our basement.”
That’s the Earl I know and love
I felt sorry for everyone I knew in the Seattle area except for your family - what fun is bunker building if you never get to take them on a trial run?
December 21st, 2006 at 5:52 pm
I can not believe that you were able to host a dinner party for freaking 5 people with no power. I can’t do that on any given day of the year.
I bow to your greatness.
December 22nd, 2006 at 7:58 am
It’s just insanity. Please don’t bow! Next time I’ll take all the dishes and put them in the cooler outside…..
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