We can weather the storms...
I never blogged about the winter storm last February. Maybe because by the time our power was restored I had too many other things on my mind. Anyway, here are some excerpts from a commentary by a local resident, Larry Hughes, in the Poughkeepsie Journal right after the storm. I'll add my comments amongst his. Mine will be in italics. Here goes:
Now I know what it must have been like to be a peasant in 16th-century Eastern Europe. We should have buttons made — "I Survived the February 2010 Storm." My power was out for four days. It was, to quote the poets, "the pits." Some poet must have said that.
Power had gone out at 7 a.m., just as I was sipping my first cup of tea. I assumed it would be on before long.
Long is the operative word.
Our power went out around midnight Thursday, February 25th. It flickered off and on a couple of times while I was reading at bedtime, so I decided to turn out the lights and finish reading in the morning. Roger was on a business trip, flying home the next day.
I toughed it out for three nights. Dressing for bed was an interesting experience. Once I went outside to warm up. I had work to do that made my public relations job at Saint Francis Hospital even more enjoyable — heat, hot water and a cafeteria.
When I woke up and looked at the blank alarm clock, I knew the power was out. I got up and discovered that there were at least 8 inches of snow on the deck. It was cool inside the house, around 60 degrees, so I bundled up. Every time I got too cold I'd either jump on the Nordic Trac or go outside and shovel snow until I warmed up. I expected electricity to return any moment, but nothing.
Eventually I decided to shovel a path in the driveway so that when Roger came home he could make it into the dark house without being totally soaked. It was a great way to get better acquainted with our neighbors. REALLY. 
I was too chicken to drive to the train station to pick him up but a good friend volunteered to do it. The 15 minute drive from the station took 1 1/2 hours, and Roger had to hike up the last hill on foot because the car couldn't make it.
After three nights of dozing in my freezer of a co-op I checked into a motel. I couldn't get the room warm enough. There was hot water! And television!
We outlasted this guy - our power was out for 4 1/2 days. Each day the inside temperature dropped a little more. Thankfully it wasn't as cold as it might have been and the coldest it got to (on the last day and a half) was in the upper 30's. Lots of friends invited us to move in with them, but we were worried about pipes freezing and decided to stick it out.
We slept under a blanket, comforter, 2 quilts, and 2 sleeping bags. The weight of all that made it impossible to turn over without waking up.
When the stores were out of propane tanks, we purchased a "tree" which connected the propane tank brought in from the barbecue on the deck to a lantern Roger retrieved from the basement. That provided light and heat. We lit about 16 candles and left a few safe ones going through the night, along with a trickle of water in some faucets.
We moved the food in the frig freezer to the big freezer in the garage. A day or two later we moved the food from the frig into coolers in the garage, and then ended up burying them in the snow. Not bad, except when we wanted a drink of milk. :)
We finally made time to go see "Avatar" which offered 3 hours of warmth. And went to the food court in the mall for dinner a couple of times. Friends invited us to dinner and we stayed as long as possible to enjoy their hospitality and warmth. I discovered that it was warmer in the car, especially after running a few errands and heating it, so I did my journaling and read my scriptures out there.
It's amazing how much we take for granted. It's amazing how good our lives are and it's not all bad to be reminded on occasion. Once every 25 years would be often enough. I would have preferred the power back sooner or not having it go out at all. But there are worse challenges than toughing it out for a few days. The Great Depression, although I didn't experience it, comes to mind.
I was amazed how much the cold and lack of appliances affected me. Somehow Roger and I kept good attitudes and that made a huge difference, but sometimes it was challenging for me to keep going. I really like being warm, and I REALLY REALLY REALLY dislike being cold. But keeping a positive, can-do attitude made us more able to solve problems and keep going. It was a great practice in determining our own emotions.
Here's to the repair crews who restored power. Here's to the men and women at the radio stations who worked long and hard to keep us informed of weather and road information, and storm closings. They would have preferred being home trying to get their own power back. Same for print and TV reporters.
On the morning of our 5th day without power, as I drove to an appointment, I spotted 3 crews working in various areas of our neighborhood. I figured that the chances of having power when I returned were pretty good. And I was right. Aaaaahhhhh - lights, heat, and a working stove. HEAVEN! I knew that I've never appreciated the great discovery of electricity as much as I should have and vowed to never forget again.
The worst conditions bring out the best in people and this storm was no exception. Acts of kindness abounded. We're a better community for the latest example of the worst of times. Life does indeed go on.
posted by Linda @ 9:59 AM
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