What the hell did we do before electricity? Two days ago we had a major storm blew thru and our power was knocked out. So for two full days we have been with the kids with no cable TV, internet, house phone, phone chargers, dvds, music, videos, microwaves, refrigerators, lights, AC or ceiling fans. So again, I ask what the hell did we do before electricity!!!!! There was a snow and ice storm years ago where we were trapped in the house for a week and I thought we were going to go crazy. But at least then we had electricity and cable! Oh, and did I mention that the other side of the street had power? A few more hours of no power and I would have taken my kids across the street for some looting.
First off, my oldest daughter (18 years old) who steady says she is the most loyal person in the family bailed out on us immediately. As soon as it became apparent that the power was not coming back anytime soon, she packed her bags and was out the door to her girlfriends house. Loyal to herself I guess.
So we light candles and pull out the flash light. My baby daughter clicks the on button on the flashlight.....nothing. there is nothing because baby girl plays with the flashlight and she leaves it on so now that we need it the batteries are dead. Of course, my brave son (sarcasm, dumb not brave) volunteers to go to 7-11 to get batteries.....during the storm....on his bike. Anyway, when he gets back with the batteries. There is no A/C and it's hot as Haiti in the summer so we sweat through the night.
I awakened the next morning with the optimism that the power is back on. I open my eyes and look to the digital clock on my dresser.....nothing. How can that be? I've never been longer than a few hours without power. Except the time in college when my roommate took my half of the electric bill money but did not pay the electric bill. I remember walking into the apartment and seeing him sitting in silence on the couch. Another story for another time.
So I make another of the 10 or so trips to the store to get ice to keep my food cold and I think of a gameplan. If I take the family to breakfast we can kill a little time and surely the power will be back on by then.
So I come home and offer to take the family to breakfast at the kids favorite spot. My wife decides to get oin on the act by insisting that we go to HER favorite breakfast spot. Of course when we get there the sign on the door says, "Try again, no power sorry." Too funny but that is what she gets.
Then we go to breakfast and the 5 year old is asking every 10 minutes, "Do we have cable again yet?"
The 18 year old is texting, because actually talking to me would require to much effort, asking if the power is back yet. My son is hoping the power stays off forever because that means we can eat out all the time.
After getting home from breakfast there is still no power. So we spend the rest of the day outside playing basketball and soccer. It was very entertaining to watch my wife play basketball against my 13 year old son. I don't think that I have seen her play basketball before....her skill level does not match her competitiveness and I will leave it at that!!!!!
That evening we played Yatzee by candlelight, jenga and any other activity we could think of until we couldn't stay awake any longer. Sunday morning was Father's Day! I opened my eyes and my digitial clock was still dark!!!! Obviously, I don't have a backup battery in the damn thing.
The family brought cards and gifts to me that morning which I appreciated. But the greatest gift of all was the sound of the ComEd truck rolling up the street. Problem is the truck just slowed as we looked out the window and cheered. They may have saw lights on the other side of the street and kept rolling. Suddenly, I felt like Gilligan.
The family took me to breakfast for Father's Day, at my wife's favorite spot.....shocker!!!!!! On the way way cased the neighborhood looking for the ComEd truck but we found nothing. We rode on to breakfast in silence with us thinking the following:
- My wife and I - How much longer can we hold out before we have to start using kids for food?
- 5 year old - Do we have cable again yet?
- 13 year old son - I hope they have thick bacon at the spot today!
- 18 year old daughter - If there is no power, I'm getting this free meal then I'm out! Oh, and I am loyal as hell to these people! I am here ain't I?
- Sister in Law - Crickets
After breakfast we drove home hoping and praying for lights. We slowly pulled up to the house and we sent my son in to check. 1 minute later he came out with his hands up screaming "WE HAVE LIGHTS" like he just won the Super Bowl!
Again, I ask, "What the hell did we do before electricity? Whatever it was we should still be doing it because I must say I enjoyed my powerless weekend with my family. I think we will be having 'powerless' days from time to time.
That's All I Got!!!!
I'm Out!!!
44Black
