All Tricks and One Treat this Halloween

I was in the middle of editing… the video for the great at “BE”ing Movement, when suddenly I am disrupted and looking at a blank computer screen. I received some great pictures and just finished the Trailer Preview, which I posted on You Tube. Just prior to the disruption the lights flickered several times, and now the power is lost. Ugh, I thought, (well maybe oh sh**) because I am hoping I didn’t lose any valuable time spent on the video so far. I surmise, probably not, as the program saves projects in real-time.

I exit my office and go directly into the kitchen. I notice through the dimly lit room, the clock on the wall reads 6:38 (pm). This could last all night, if history has any factor in determining the length of time our power is out. I make my way into my bedroom closet and reach for the heavy cardboard box that holds all things candle-like. Opening it up, I grasp an armful of candle jars, hoping not to drop one as I make my way back to the kitchen. As I put my hand in the kitchen cupboard, almost knocking mugs onto the floor, I find our child-safety lighter. I sprinkle the house, most importantly the bathroom, with the lit candle jars. At this moment, I am grateful I filled our bathtub with water for flushing.

The family gathers into the front room. I continue to feel gratitude that we already ate and cleared dinner. The house feels warm and other than my husband wondering where he is going to watch the hockey game, all is well. We enjoy our time chitchatting and spending time together. Or maybe it was just myself, as my oldest son kept wishing the power would go on or he could go somewhere else. We stay up until about 11 pm and decide the power will not go on anytime tonight, so we head to bed.

The following morning I am greeted with the continued hum of our neighbors generator. Not a welcoming sound, as this tells me, we still have no power.

My husband and sons, clear the 12 inches of heavy, wet snow from our driveway. I begin the daunting task of emptying out the contents of the refrigerator into coolers of ice. Hours later, I hear the rumbling of an engine. Peeking out the window I catch a glance of my husband and son escaping on the four-wheeler to investigate the neighborhood. They return with the bad news. Heavy snow is blanketing the branches and they are lying over the power lines. There are several trees and poles down. We hear the high school is being used for a shelter, to the many who cannot stay in their cold homes.

About now, I am wishing we invested in a much-needed generator, because I am in the beginning stages of having little patience, for lack of caffeine running through my body. All the while thinking, it would be great to “BE” caffeinated! Then I am certain I am having a delusional moment, when I see my husband ascending the stairs holding a stainless steel coffee pot. I soon realize it is not a delusion at all, as the scent of freshly brewed coffee fills the room. “It’s a gift from Veronica and Brian,” he comments. I continue to feel gratitude, despite these unfortunate events. This time it is toward our neighbors, who unknowingly began my day by awakening me with the humming of their generator, but now has vindicated the episode with the delivery of a fresh pot of hot coffee. My husband pours me a cup, in my favorite mug. I grasp its sides, warming my hands, as the cool air begins to creep through the house, like an unwelcomed ghost on Halloween night. Only this time, he has arrived a day early, from a snowstorm that blanketed the northeast this October 30^th.

Postscript:

My husband never did see the hockey game that night. He was only able to get updates on his smartphone. And as the timing of this post our home is still without power (52+ hours). It is not predicted to come back on for another two days. This unusual snowstorm on October 30, 2011 has successfully cancelled Halloween in our town. Additionally, we are expected to accumulate 3-4 school days, that will need to be made up this coming June.

Happy Halloween Everyone!