Back to the Future!

On this memorial day weekend, we experienced a 23-hour power outage due to storms.  Now we have a generator, so the freezers stayed frozen, refrigerators refrigerated,  pump pumping, and we were able to have hot showers and flush!! (for those who do not have a well system, trust me that you want a generator or nothing at all works!).  The generator does a great job--it is huge, and was acquired after the multiple- day inconvenience of the "east coast power outage".  Now, we can survive.  But it does not support our energy consuming lifestyle.

It was 23-hours of back to the future!  We had to wash dishes by hand (was mid party when the storm hit), no TV (yes, I do remember a time with no TV ), no Internet, vacuuming, laundry, or cooking (yeah!!)  It was HOT (90) with no air conditioning (and yes, that was not something that we routinely had until I was an adult!).   We could not print to our wireless printer, watch netflix, or find out when the power would be restored at the power company web site.

We used candles and flashlights, and listened to the tree frogs, while we made somemores over Sterno.
We were awakened in the middle of the night, when the batteries ran out on the alarm system.  We went out for breakfast.  Popped into a store for some A/C and window shopping.  And returned home to the darkness and the quiet.

Just the buzz of the generator.  A hot breeze on the porch.  A magazine to read.  A novel for 4.  Some knitting for me.  Taking advantage of the light.  A little weed pulling (something you don't need electricity for), and some hand mending.   It was a though time was standing still as we were sweating away on the porch---a luxury that I did not have in my youth--a screen porch.  At least the bugs were outside.

It seemed like more fun then---before we knew about all the modern conveniences that make our lives "easier".   You went out to move the sprinkler---there was no "system" on timers.  I guess we were used to being hot, although I remember lots of fans to move the air--but we have only one very small fan left in our possession, the rest being deemed unnecessary by central air.  You opened your garage door with an "umph"--not a button. 

Just when we were about to try to find a wi-fi hot spot to find out what was going on, the power came on--reluctantly at first.  Startled the dog, who seemed to have adapted better than the humans!  All of the touch lamps were on, all of the auto switches defaulted to on, the timers a mess, the clock blinking a menacing 12:00!!   For just a second, I almost wished it hadn't come on---wait! What was I thinking.   Turn on the news to see what was up!  Throw some soap in that dishwasher, full of dishes from last night, and turn on that air conditioning!!  Yeah! 

So although we long for the simpler times, really, our lives are much better now.  Not better living through chemistry---as the commerical said in my youth....but better living, period.  Made easier with electricity. 

So thank you to the power company work crews who were out on this hot holiday weekend to restore my power--so that I may conspicuously consume it in comfort!!!