I was totally in the dark

For eons, we have heard about the probability of the "rolling black out" or a required "brown-out" to help conserve electricity during high usage hours. I don't recall being in one, but I have done my part in conservation. We don't have air conditioning, but I have been known, on days when they ask to conserve, to not use fans in rooms that are not being used. During a Santana heat condition, keeping the hot air circulated keeps from walking into a furnace. I don't use unnecessarily and feel like I do my part.

I was not ready for yesterday. But, it was very exciting, and in my very deepest parts, a great adventure! A power outage was not uncommon when I was young. We lived in a rural area and it was not unusual for the power to be out. We learned early in life that if the power went out, you didn't open the fridge or freezer and everyone has a flashlight they were responsible for. We had some oil lamps, and if it was winter, we had a fireplace. We just knew that these things happen and we got through it. If it lasted too long, it was a bar-b-que night, or two, and we all had fun as a family, until we were teenagers, where we believed family wasn't something you admitted to.

Our power outage last night can not be compared to the Great Outage of 1965 when most of the new England states were dark, as well as part of Canada, or the Javi-Bali of 2005 where millions were affected, but it was pretty big. This one affected part of AZ, Mexico, San Diego county and Orange County. Lots of people, pretty warm on the hot list. I was in Penny's when it hit, The Husband was at work and The Girl was at school. Like most, I waited the 15 minutes before going to the exit hoping for power to return. They announced that the store was evacuating and that the outage was wide spread. I call The Husband and asked just what did he do! I then started heading for the parking lot, since now the mall was announcing they would be evacuating the mall. I knew what this meant, the traffic lights wouldn't be working and people just really don't have the patience for a 4 way stop. I got to the parking lot, and headed out. Took me an hour to get home, and I was at the beginning of the mass on the road. I tried, unsuccessfully to reach The Girl. Cell towers are affected by power outages of that magnitude. Texting didn't work, either. Finally I got a circuit and was able to make contact with her. She had been outside and didn't realize about the outage, but did wonder about the traffic.

When I got home, Stick Dog was happy. You can tell, by the quietness of it all, that something is just different. The neighbors all came out, we had talk time, huddled around a car listening to the few radio stations that had power for news and really enjoyed the time. No one could go anywhere, we all just had to stay put. Meanwhile, The Husband is going to wait out the traffic before coming home and The Girl is waiting, as well. Finally, around dark, everyone is home.

I realized that The Girl has never endured an outage like this. She and her friends were at a loss at what to do. I realized that the days are gone when the people are inventive and able to rise to the occasion. We live in a world of technology and electricity, and without them our communication and ability to live cease to exist. What to do? How to do it? Very interesting. We lit a fire in the outside pit and sat and yakked a while. Then we took our lantern and flash lights, and a very skittish dog, inside and went to bed.

The electricity came on around 2, and The Husband turned the fan on. Ahhh what bliss. We got up this morning and life resumes, for the most part. I will go back to Penny's and get the booty I have put aside for me and we are watching television coverage of the black out. I will also need to do some fridge cleaning. Yep, too many hours without power can make for some intestinal problems. Glad we ate all the homemade ice cream before yesterday!