There was a violent spring storm last night and we lost power due to a downed line. First it flickered on and off twice in aobut 10 minutes and then it was really, most sincerely dead. It’s amazing how much of nothing there is to do at night without electricity. Being alone increases this. You can’t read, watch a movie, cook, sew, or work on the computer which was what I had planned for a quiet evening at home. Luckily once the rain stopped the temps and humidity dropped and with all the windows open it was marginally comfortable. But except for walking around the neighborhood admiring the enormous downed trees and crushed cars I was getting bored. So I did what any redblooded American would do which is I got into my car and drove to the nearest mall where they have Starbucks and Barnes & Noble and that is how I spent a pleasant evening.
Driving home streets were still flooded, some blocked by emergency vehicles so I had to dogleg about a bit. A block away from our house I saw a policewoman on duty standing rigidly in the intersection like she was guarding Watts against looters. It felt silly but I did feel safer knowing she was there. Got home by 10 p.m. and by 11 p.m. there was still no juice so gave up and found a candle and a flashlight and went to bed with my cellphone – charged up during car ride – and purse by my side in case of evacuation or further emergencies.
The lights came on later that night and went off again the following morning for most of the day. So here it is Saturday evening and they just came on again, hopefully problem finally solved. But it was an interesting adventure stepping back in time and into quiet.
