Saturday, January 29, 2011

Greetings from the Ice Queen

Please forgive the recent silence. Your devoted correspondent was carried off to a land where all was cold and dark.

51 hours without power.

It finally came back this evening, and the indoor temperature rose 10 degrees F in an hour and a half. All the way up to 57 degrees F.

I had just finished packing up a small bag and was on my way to spend the night with friends who had their power restored around 4:15 early Friday morning. Other friends are camping out there with their cat. Another friend invited those who needed to come for a hot shower, food, and company. I gratefully accepted. It wasn't so much a shower as being able to wash my hair and dry it! And it felt so good to be taken care of...

The cats seemed almost confused when the lights came back on, while I felt less guilty about contemplating leaving them to freeze alone. In the end, I decided to sleep at home.

Meanwhile, the storm which precipitated the power outage caused my rendez-vous with Evan to be postponed. Maybe Sunday afternoon. We'll see...

In the world scheme of things - and even with what some of you are dealing with - this wasn't all that serious. But it was damn uncomfortable.

Now think of the people who are sleeping on the street.

I'm trying to avoid that.
But the thoughts intrude.
And make me feel guilty.

Good night, all.
Stay warm.

2 comments:

Paul said...

OG, sorry to hear about the electricity outrage.
We have a charity that looks after the street people in very cold weather.
I feel the same going home to my snug centrally heated cottage, despite the fact that I worked all my life to get it.
"There but for the grace of god!"
Love and warm hugs,
Paul.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad your power is back on. You could never be a true ice queen. Your kindness shines through. Your garden is full of flowers, I can tell from your writing.

“Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. The consciousness of loving and being loved brings a warmth and richness to life that nothing else can bring.”
~~~~Oscar Wilde