Powerless

I worked this Saturday at the office and during the afternoon Kerrie called to let me know the power was out. This happens several times a year for a few hours, and in a rare instance it may last a day, so I didn't think much of it.

On the drive home, after arriving in town, I saw the whole town was out and it took me over 2 hours to find a way home that wasn't blocked by downed trees or powerlines. Every back road or main thoroughfare was blocked at some point. I would frustratingly drive a couple of miles thinking I was close, only to find yellow tape, a giant tree, or leaning telephone poles blocking my way. It was kind of like trying to pass health care reform.

Meanwhile, every other car in town was simply someone else trying to find a way home and it had the eerie feeling of The Poseidon Adventure with everyone roaming the capsized ship trying to find a way out. Eventually I got back on the highway, drove farther away from town and attacked from a different angle and luckily found a way home after encountering a few more blockages. I could only get as far as the bottom of my street, however, and had to park and walk home. I was blocked out and Kerrie was blocked in.

That was 5 days ago and we still have no power, which means we have no heat, no water (we have a well), no shower, no toilet, no laundry, television, and no internet. I mean...we actually have to talk to each other and stuff. The nearest available hotel was more than 40 miles away because so many people were without power.

Kerrie is her usual amazing self, keeping the kids fed, candles lit, refreshing ice for the refrigerator and freezer, filling the toilets with bottled water (yes, we pay for bottled water only to flush it down the toilet), cooking on our gas stove by flashlight, occupying the kids during the day (school is closed), and keeping the fireplace lit. To their credit, the kids are working hard clearing up the yard of debris and bring up firewood from down below on the driveway.

Apparently, there are hundreds of trees down all over town, about 100 snapped utility poles, and 70 crews are working around the clock to get things back in order.

Meanwhile, at night, Kerrie and I have discovered the joy of reading. We sit by the soft glow of our blackberries and turn the internet pages.