The Ohio Light Dept.
Imagine:
What if your power went out for one week? Not just in your house, but your entire city, which would also affect your work environment too. No refrigerator, no freezer (sorry Sam’s club users), no television or hairdryers, or internet. To be honest, that would totally stink for me. One couldn’t even DVR “Prison Break” with this particular crisis.
But this is what is happening right now in Ohio. Hurricane Ike rode through Texas, not causing as much damage as many believed it would, and like most hurricanes, lost some steam as it traveled north by land. Then on Sunday it rode into Ohio and blew its 70 mph winds and rain onto the Ohio mainland, and it would appear that all the emergency vehicles that Ohio had were away in Texas. Therefore, they were not prepared for what would happen if the electricity went out for a week. But they are finding out now.
My friend Clay called me last night and shared that he was on his way to pick up his father-in-laws generator. “You can’t buy one right now,” he said to me sounding more tired than normal. Of course. After about three days of having no power in his entire house, or at work, a 9 office enterprise he’s co-owned for 5 years or so, not to mention not being able to blog his thoughts on politics through the whole ordeal, I’d be sounding tired too.
But I have an idea for Clay (who can’t read this quite yet) and for anyone else who is out of power for this extended period of time. What if you were to stop, and before you get involved in a lot of work to make this “problem” go away, sit around with your wife and kid(s), and/or your best friends, college roommates, co-workers, and just talk and play and chill for a while? Not just an evening, but a big 24 hour ordeal.
What if you took advantage of this currently irreparable problem and turned back the clock, and forced yourselves to enjoy the company, not of a 50 inch square box with surround sound, but the company of one another, really taking time to connect with the people in your life?
Please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not saying I want this electricity problem to ever happen to my beautiful area of the northeast US…
I’m just wondering how that would affect our lives?
Update: The power company has told Clay that his power “just might” be on from Thursday to Sunday. Thanks for that info, Captain Obvious of the Ohio Light Department!
This post is a part of Watercooler Wednesday.
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our family was without power for two days and you see firsthand how dependent you are on it. what you said is true. we talked to neighbors and more as a family while this was taking place. we probably need more balance!