A terrific windstorm sprang up in the wee hours Wednesday morning, knocking over trees and power poles, blowing trampolines out of people's yards, and making it difficult to drive. Of course, the electricity went out, and it stayed out at our house for three days and two nights. How dependent we are on electricity these days! My husband has a generator which he runs for an hour or two, once or twice a day, to keep the freezers and the fridge cold, and to charge computers and cell phones.
We do have running water even when the power is out, but the water heater doesn't work. So taking baths and showers is out of the question, and water for washing dishes has to be heated on the wood stove. We have an old propane cook stove/oven in a shed, so that can also be used to heat water and to cook meals. It isn't particularly convenient to be going up an down the stairs and in and out of the house repeatedly while preparing a meal, but it beats eating sandwiches and cold cereal for three days.
This isn't the first time we have experienced an extended power outage. We live in a wooded area, and every strong wind storm topples trees into the power lines. Each time it happens, my respect for the pioneer women increases. They always cooked on a wood stove, or over a campfire. They always worked by lamplight and candlelight in the evening. They always had to heat water for washing dishes and bathing.
But those ladies were accustomed to life without electricity. Most of them grew up that way, and knew nothing else. Meals were simpler, laundry and bathing were done less frequently, and nobody worried about whether the computer was charged up or whether the internet was working. Most of us, however, grew up with the convenience of electricity and have a difficult time doing without it.
You wouldn't believe how many times I automatically reached for a light switch, or headed for the bathroom without grabbing a flashlight. It was a great relief when the lights came on again at 8:00 this evening. I am staying up much later than I ought to, partly because it's so nice to have light again. And I can write a Hive post, because my computer can stay plugged in; it's an older laptop, and doesn't stay charged up very long. It's nice to be back, and I hope to post again tomorrow.