Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Never brag........

only show gratitude. The picture is exactly what it looked like yesterday afternoon as we peered out of the office building window. In all my years I really don't remember seeing such black clouds envelope an area the way these did. I was reminded of the movie, Independence Day, where the alien ship slowly takes over the entire sky over the city.

It was in the 90's and miserable. A nice rain was needed....but not a storm. As soon as the black clouds were visible from the windows, we started trying to get to the Internet to see what was going on weather-wise. Over the fire radio, we could hear the fire departments west of us going out on run after run for downed wires, trees, etc. We knew we were in for it.....yet there was this faint glimmer of hope that it may miss us. We've been fortunate in the fact that a lot of storms go south of us. Something had happened because we were not able to get to the Internet....probably lines down somewhere. So we just had to depend on our own eyes and listen to emergency services do their thing.

Within minutes it was as dark as night even though it was only about 3 in the afternoon. Then the winds and the rain came......it poured so hard that cars were pulling off the roadway. The phones started ringing with people asking if we were under tornado warnings. What? People still haven't learned to tune in to their TV or radio for up-to-the-minute notices. I didn't know much more than they did.....that it was raining and dark. And yes.....frightful looking. Now here is where the selfishness creeps into my being. In the back of my mind I was hoping desperately that I would not lose power. I have a freezer nearly full of food, plus that.....its NINETY SOME degrees out and I love....LOVE my central AC.

The storm whipped through in about 10 minutes or so.....just long enough to cause havoc in some areas. The sun was coming out as I dialed my home phone number. If my answering machine picked up, then I would know that I still had power. We had heard on the radio that a major intersection a little over a mile from me was down due to a tree on a transformer. YES! I silently yelled to myself....the answering machine picked up. I had POWER! I was already thinking of sleeping in comfort during this hot spell.

Through-out the afternoon I heard from several co-workers.....a lot of them were going home to no power. One lived about 2 miles from me. Just before I left for home, I called my house again and heard my own voice answer as the machine picked up. I had a smile on my face. I was lucky! But I know not to brag. I've lived long enough to know what happens when you brag.

It only takes me 11 minutes to drive home. I saw evidence in that 6 mile drive of the storm's fury. Lots of branches and traffic lights out. I pulled into my driveway, got the mail, and hit the remote to open the garage door as I got back in the car. Nothing. I hit it again. Still nothing.

You know us humans are funny that way. When something won't work, we just can't seem to give up. We always have to keep trying it....3 or 4 times before we finally accept the inevitable.

Needless to say.....since my garage would not open, that meant that I had no power. I parked outside my garage door and came into my house. It was still cool inside but I knew it wouldn't stay that way for long. Thinking about all the power outages in the area, it could be days before I would be restored. What about my food in the freezer. I do have a generator, but haven't the strength to operate it any longer....if it still works. Its been a long time since I've fired that puppy up.

I came inside and laid across my bed.....ticked off. Yes, ticked off. I could hear my neighbor's generator running. I could probably get him to help me, even though I really hate bothering people. All of a sudden the power came back on and I felt truly blessed. So far, it has stayed on but.....nothing would surprise me. Its going to be in the mid-90's again today, tomorrow and over 100 the next day. I hope the storms stay away but we all know.....extremely hot weather and electrical storms just seem to go together. They are predicting strong storms again on Friday.

14 comments:

fiwa said...

Ugh, that is so scary. I will keep you in my prayers honey. I hope the power doesn't go out on you and all the storms pass right on by.

Hugs -
fiwa

Just Stuff From a Boomer said...

My Michigan sister lives on a lake and had their boat dock awning whipped all around and the poles bent. that was some wind.

Losing power is the worst thing to deal with, with food spoilage. Hope you don't run into that.

Mary said...

Sheesh! That was close! I'm glad you didn't lose power for too long, hopefully you will dodge the bullet again on Friday. I loved the observation about when something doesn't work, you just keep on trying, yep, that's me. I also have a very difficult time asking for help, but sometimes you just need to bite the bullet especially when you could possibly lose all that food. I think most people enjoy helping others if they can. I know when I've helped out a neighbor, it always makes me feel good. Maybe make some cookies when the trouble has passed or something. Just sayin'

ethelmaepotter! said...

While I love a good storm, I hate the havoc and inconvenience it causes. Glad you were spared any major issues.

We have strong thunderstorms and tornadoes year round here. I adore sitting out on the front porch and watching the storms come in...I've even got some photos from years ago of funnels forming! But once the hail starts coming down or the lightening gets too close, I'm in the basement!

And I can empathize with you on that freezer...when we had a major storm a few years ago, our power was off for three days and I lost everything...everything in the fridge, freezer, and basement freezer. Probably about $300 worth of store bought stuff, but loads of home frozen stuff. THAT hurt. And then I thought of the people who lost their homes and some who lost loved ones during that storm...and my puny frozen loss seemed like a blessing!

Have a great week!

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

I think we all have to worry about power outages, at least until this massive heat wave ends. Stay cool and safe!

Joyce Gray said...

Losing power, one of my greatest fears. Not just the heat, the frig, but the sump pumps if it is raining. Drving home from running errands today, I heard an 83 year old women who lives in Chicago and has no air conditioner being interviewed, she said it was 102 in her home. I felt so quilty thinking about rushing home to my cool air conditioned home. So I said a quick Thank You to God and asked for a blessing for her.

THINGS YOU'D NEVER GUESS ABOUT ME said...

You said: "I do have a generator, but haven't the strength to operate it any longer"

And that is EXACTLY what got me hustling to Florida. I knew that during an ice storm our wires would snap and IF NOT FOR JOE I would never be able to get the generator going.

Yes. Joe is still alive and almost kicking, but I live with these morbid thoughts and they can literally make me move 800 miles away just because I can't start a generator by myself.

Pearl said...

We had that very storm today...

And power outages? I'm surprised, honestly, that there aren't more of them!

Glad your outage was short-lived.

Pearl

Jamie said...

You write so wonderfully, you make a story about losing - or not losing - your power as intense as a best selling mystery. And I am so glad that you are sleeping in the cool ac, or at least I hope you are. :) Hugs friend. Happy Hump day.

happyone said...

Glad your power was only off for a short while!!

Anonymous said...

Sheesh. That sounds like a scary experience. Glad you were powerless for only a short period though. One has to wonder whether such storms are going to become more frequent as a result of climate change.

dc said...

I bet you have a battery in your answering machine is why it still worked? maybe. Anyway, wish some of that rain could come out way. In so. Mo. it is dry as dust. Glad your power came back on. Better check out that generator. Hubby, runs ours every couple months, and changes the oil at least once a year even if we don't use it. Only used it once in 10 years, but was so glad to have it during an ice storm. Good luck.

Leann said...

You do have the gift of putting words together well :-) I was right there with you at the window, driving home amid the havoc, and laying there on that bed when the power came back on.

I pray it's the last of it for awhile.

Blessed be!

Joy Des Jardins said...

Oh how I feel your pain Val. I posted about this 'storm' frustration...and I will be posting something again...soon. Are we ever going to be normal again? These temps will never work for me either...I become hermit-like. Yep, those Friday storms got everyone again....ENOUGH!! ~Joy