A Photo Tale Told Twelve Hours Apart...

 I had an interesting twelve hour period last week.

It began at 2:30am. 

Actually, it began several hours earlier. That's when the power went out. It was around 10pm. All of us stumbled around the house, lanterns in hand. Since the outage occurred around a time when we retire for the evening, we went to bed hoping the electricity would return before long.

At 2:30am, the power had not yet returned. Something else did return to the house...that maddening sound of a smoke alarm going off. It was in the basement and our son woke us up to notify us of the sound. I grabbed my lantern and a few batteries to solve the problem.

Once we discovered and fixed the problem, I returned to bed.

Fast forward twelve hours. I got up at my normal time and started to work. After a few hours in, it was apparent I was not felling well. I decided to take a half-day off and get some rest. I climbed into bed complete with the necessities (remote controls, AirPods, and most importantly, tissues...). When I looked at the clock, it hit me...it's been twelve hours, so...

I snapped another photo.

The two pictures create a photo tale told twelve hours apart.

I didn't promise a great tale, now did I...?

Powerless...At Work

So, there I was, working away--I was even leaving a voice-mail message for someone, when suddenly...poof. 

No power.

It was a first for me, not the power going out, but what I was doing when it happened.

I was working...telecommuting.

I'm experiencing a lot of firsts with my job. I've blogged about some of them, like how things have changed since the weather's gotten cold. Today, the power to our house and to half the town went out. Just like if I worked in a big building with hundreds of other workers, I was stuck with nothing to do.

The outage hit just before the time I usually go upstairs and get lunch. I thought, perfect timing--I'll just get lunch and wait for the power to return. One problem, everything I planned on eating required electricity to prepare.

In the past, when I worked with everyone else in the same building, when the power went out everyone knew it--including the big bosses. Today, I was the only one. After checking with the power company to see when things would be reinstated, we needed to get lunch for the family so we went for a short drive. After all, it would be at least two and a half hours before the power came back on. Thankfully, it came back after only about forty-five minutes.

When I worked with others, there was a collective gasp, when the power went out at work. Some were in the middle of writing reports, others were on the phones. Everything stopped and we all experienced the same thing together. Today, that's what didn't happen. It was just me by myself. That was the weirdest part, and something new in my year of "firsts."

So, The Power Goes Out...

So, The Power Goes Out...

When I drive home from work (and pretty much whenever I drive...) I try and time the lights so I don't have to stop. On this afternoon's commute I came to a light in my hometown and tried to see the colors on the traffic light. I saw neither red, yellow, or green. The power was out. Before I went home I stopped by the office where I work part-time and they were on back-up power.

I continued driving in town and through two other traffic lights that lacked electricity. When I reached my house--no power. Luckily my family benefited for a couple of reasons...first, the power came back on shortly after I got home. And secondly, the house was not too warm due to the incredible wonderful fabulous amazing and nice summer weather we've been having.

Being without power made me think about how we live. It's amazing how blessed we are, but it can all come to an end so quickly. It's like a house of cards relying on the thinest of veneers to remain intact. Living in the community where we do, being prepared is not only a motto but a goal toward which to strive.

As I drove home each car at the traffic lights came to a complete stop (as we've all been taught to do...) before proceeding through the intersections. I wonder how we'd do (or will do...) if and/or when the power goes out not just for an hour or two, but for days, weeks, or completely. One day we may just find out...