Now, we live outside of the city limits…just into the country.  It was dark let me tell you.  Of course, because we had a campfire the night before the lighter that we use to light candles and such could not be found in the pitch black night.   The flashlight had gotten moved earlier in the evening when the kids went out to get the chicken eggs from the coop.  So,  here we were trying to find some way to get some light.  We finally found both the flame thrower and a flashlight. 

          I was able to call the electric company with my cell phone…because of course, the cordless phones in the house did not work without electric.  Here is a smart idea…invest in a cheap regular phone to keep on hand for just such of an emergency.   The electric company says they will send someone right out…which they do in about a half of an hour.  I was worried about a fire hitting the wooden shake shingles of my very old house and lighting us up like a marshmallow at a campfire.  Luckily that didn’t happen.  Once the light/flames went around the metal edge of the drip edge under the eves of the roof of the house and the wire snapped…it stopped thank God!  I had kids in the house so, it would have been double scary trying to get them out of the house and out into the safety of the vehicle with rubber tires.   Thank God we did not have to worry about a fire…because i looked out of the window (instead of walking around the house out of fear of a downed wire) to see if there were any flames on the outside walls of the house.  We were safe from that danger.

          It seems that somehow water had gotten into the line where it had been spliced by the electric  company a few years before and caused it to short out or some such thing because the wire had literally blown apart and was down on the ground.  A downed wire.  Can I just remind you how dangerous a downed wire is?  It is lethal, people die very easily from not being aware of a down wire or not taking it seriously enough not to be out walking around when these things happen. 

            So here we are …the electric repair man and my husband are walking around…with my husband a few paces behind him.  My husband is talking with him and walking very carefully because of the possibility of a downed wire…he is more careful than the electric man.  My husband mentions that it could be a downed wire and he stopped in his tracks and shown a light on the wire…and sure enough…it was a few feet away from the repair guy.  YIKES!  These repair people are brave….but they have to remember to stay wise too. 

          He had to go get parts and another worker to help do this job…but i want to say that when storms come…these people are out on the front lines in some of the worst weather…restoring power to people who are in need.  Thank you Repair men and women for the work that you do….please be careful out there.  I know people depend on you…but, we all need to remember that it is dangerous work that you do in the course of restoring power for those of us without it when these things happen.    Thanks for your commitment to your job and to the safety of your customers!  We appreciate you.

       When families had to seek jobs and living conditions that allowed them to survive; they were often seperated from one another.  In those days and before…when family had to become distanced from one another they kept in contact by writing letters, journals or diaries; or in cases of emergency, they sent a telegram.  Phones became the next form of communication and true to form; technology is leading the edge of communication in today’s relationships.  Cell phones, email, computers with instant chat, faxes combined with air travel, train, busses and boats are our links to one another.  Many families just don’t have the advantage of living as close to one another as they would like to be physically present in each other’s daily lives.  Because families don’t get lots of time together…alot of our conversations are spent on surface things…or skimming the surface of what’s happening with one another. 

        It doesn’t go without notice that many people are surrounded by lots of people but are lonelier than they have ever felt.  Family support, often is non-existant; or ,not consistent enough to give children a foundation upon which to build their own families when the time comes.  Divorce has played a part…but, we all crave closeness and support in spite of such adversities.

       That is why i have been interested to hear about those who are finding ways of reaching out to their family and friends in ways that will cement their relationships, in no uncertain terms.  Last winter, i took a course on documenting memories or experiences in a written form; so that future generations can have a window into how we each thought, felt, or acted in any given circumstance.  The instructor just happened to be my former kindergarten teacher who i was reconnecting with some 30 odd years later .  She impressed upon us all the value of passing on memories and experiences to those that we cherished in our lives. 

      This week i heard about a celebrity who was doing something similar, in his own way.  Sidney Poitier has written a book for his great granddaughter.  He decided to write down things of importance for him to share with his granddaughter.  He is in his 80′s and his great granddaughter is now somewhere around 2 or 3 years of age.  He talks of how he was moved to put into written word, things that had relevance for him to communicate to his family member when he was standing in the room with four generations of his family after her birth. 

       Why do we wait until some monumentual moment in our lives to make these decisions; we all have value to share with one another.  It is a form of sharing and caring to be able to “talk” about issues that are near and dear to our hearts with those that we love.  It is our legacy to each other.  When we are gone…everything we think and feel goes with us; unless we have taken action to preserve such things.  Who do you wish to connect with; and what is it that you wish to tell them?  Don’t waste another moment…make the time…it doesn’t have to be a novel…don’t worry about grammar or form…just write it down…you will be glad that you did.  The words you leave behind may just help to influence the next generation when all of the “other” voices they hear may not have their best interest at heart like you do!

      My parent’s phone went out…and since they are sick…left a message on their cell phone.  Then later, we will drive up and take them dinner.  Making homemade chicken soup and homemade rolls. 

       In the middle of all of this….homeschooling for my middle son….as well as, a Christmas program for my youngest daughter.  Wow, Can it all get done?  Sure why not?    I am woman hear me roar…lol!