A "No power" New England night or three

Oh yes, here we go again. Another windy winter night and the power goes out. One would think the next you hear is a line of complaints, but reality is the opposite. I really love those nights. When it's a snow storm, it's quiet gentleness is a beauty to see, but this week it was a wind storm, pelting rain, and quivering wires. Then the power went out as expected. I live on one of the last lines to ever get repaired. I understand that, as I chose an out of the way place to homestead years ago. I battle daily that I didn't go out far enough into the wilderness as I see the Box stores coming closer and closer. I expect someday I'll see a stop light in my small rural town. Oh no, I'll dread that!

Anyway, I sat during the storm, in the light a lanterns, by the wood cookstove, and rocked. My dog faithfully by my side. (snoring). We were warm and have gas cooking, so we're all set. I remember the storms when the kids lived home. Oh they were really exciting. We'd do all sorts of things, you know, the "Never Ending Story" where you add one sentence and the next person gets to add one more so the story is constantly changing. Or we'd hide things and go searching with flashlights. But this storm is different. The kids are grown and married and I am in the storm alone. I thought to myself, what a great thing, how many people can enjoy such an evening with Mother Natures outside doing her thing and really enjoy it. No worries, no expectations, just enjoy what's happening.

I thought, I'll read. A good friend gave me a book named "How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words". I thought, this is charming, I'll read by lantern light and be really "New Engaland". Very quickly I realized I needed two lanterns.
I guess I have all the memories from years ago, but I have the eyes of now. I added another lantern and convinced myself to read on. When only on page two, and I was struggling to see those tiny little black letters that by now resembled little ants, I knew I had to give up my evening endeavor. How silly to think I could do that.

Then it struct me that the fridge had to be boosted, the rain had pelted for hours and the wind was still howling, - I had no doubt we'd not have power for days.

I have a sump pump outside a cellar door to assist the lower level and a small generator that does the job, then boosted the fridge. All's well.

Next day, no power. I call to get a status report with and estimated restoration time. The automated tape said, "the origanal team for my area was rerouted to a crtical area with lines down.". Also said "there is no restoration time available and a guess would be in 3 days". Okay, this will be fun, stated flatly back to the electronic voice. Kind of like - if one speaks to an electronic voice are you heard?

The wind calms, the rain stops, the clouds break up and the sun comes out several days later. Auuuhhhh, I can take a shower with the pump running. We go again for another regular week in New England.

And today I saw a Canadian Robin, always first to come befor the American Robin. So, you see this is a good life.
I remained blessed,
jurn
and Vinnie the Dog.....