Today was a serious lesson in how dependent I am on the electricity that comes into my house. I don't think about it; I pay my monthly bill and the power is just there. I fondly remember Erma Bombeck's essay on her thought that the basement was just full of electricity and it came out those slots in the wall when she needed it. Funny bit. About a week ago I (and presumably all my neighbors) received a notice in the mail saying that due to repairs power would be out on Friday, April 28th from 9am to 4pm. I marked my calendar and stuck the notice in an obvious place so I wouldn't forget. This morning KoKo and I went for our walk, not needing any lights or anything electric before we started out, it was broad daylight and I suppose the power was still on since it was not yet 9am. I wondered why so many of my neighbors had their car, or second car, parked in the driveway, but didn't make the connection. I left my car in the garage. When we returned home I thought I would have oatmeal for breakfast and I set up the bowl to go in the microwave Odd. The microwave light did not go on. The microwave did not respond to my command. And then I remembered - no power today. My life nearly stopped. What doesn't work? No recliner, reading lamp, garage door, toaster oven, microwave, microwave clock (all the others use batteries), ignitors on the gas range top, iron, sewing machine, washer, dryer, dishwasher, garbage disposal, bathroom heater, hot water heater, refrigerator (don't open)..... . pretty much eliminating anything I might do with my time!
I got out a pan and poured the oatmeal/water/salt into it and put it on the burner. But no spark from the ignitor. Where is a match? I haven't used a match in at least a decade. After mulling it over for what seemed like a very long time, I remembered that there is a small box of restaurant matches in the guest bath with a scented candle (which has never been fired up).. Ahhh, yes. There were three matches, might put that on my grocery list. Successfully cooked the oatmeal and ate it. No toast. What to do? KoKo and I took a little nap for about an hour. I sorted through some mail. Then moved a chair closer to a window and read the new book group book, "Dinners with Ruth" (Bader Ginsburg) by Nina Totenberg. The very beginning are Nina's comments of the value of friendship which I think I will send along to several of my friends. Great thoughts. But my eyes got tired so I thought I would take a shower. Nope, no hot water. I rolled a few small quilts for storage. I took KoKo out back three or four times, along with my coyote stick. I noticed how quiet it was, although I don't usually play music or listen to the radio. But the hum of the frig was missing. Finally I hear it again! Two o'clock and the frig was humming away. I can now think of a few things I could have done with my day, but I guess my electric dependence stood in my way. I do have flashlights for night time emergencies, but will now stock up on matches and some emergency candles. Such an educational day
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2 comments:
We definitely take so many thing in our life for granted in this electronic age. It's probably a good thing to once in a while be reminded, as long as it's a "short" reminder. Now, I think I'll add matches to my shopping list too!
Thank you Del for this important reminder how much we need and use electricity! Wow! On your list was not the telephone or restocking our cell phones for emergency calls out and in! This is all quite frightening to me....absolutely no communication with family or friends or emergency information. Do you suppose we should think a bid deeper into this situation and at least have emergency electric available to us? Just deeply thinking. Thanks so much for the reminder! Take care and stay well.
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