Power Outage--Wait, What??

The year 2021 has come with challenges that millions of us had yet to even consider living through. With COVID-19 trampling the idea that we are a people of such technological and scientific advantages, that a virus such as the one we are currently fighting daily could ever reach us, let alone exist, it has come to my attention that a deadly virus is not the only thing out there taking a stand against life itself.

If you have watched the news in the last week--or Facebook, or even Instagram and Twitter, you know that the south of Texas just endured a week-long winter storm that few of us saw coming. I'm sure we've even made talk-radio headlines, for those of you who choose to listen instead of watch. This winter storm brought not just cold weather, but snow, and it brought it with gumption.

Seven or so days ago, we were warned it was coming. Freezing temperatures, rain, sleet, ice, and yes...even SNOW was predicted. In the south, though, this is unheard of, so much so, that millions of Texans had no idea what to do when the power cut out five days ago.

When COVID-19 turned from a threat to an all-out war on health, people reacted--masks, sanitizer, toilet paper, wipes, bottled water--if it was prepackaged and for sale, it flew off the shelves faster than most stores could stock it.

But a winter storm, in south Texas?

People panicked, especially when that twenty-four hours of no power, no internet, no cell service, turned into forty-eight, and then seventy-two, and then the hours just kept multiplying. And, for this family of four, tossing in a special needs child that has no concept of what is going on, aside from Disney+ not being an option right now, was just downright mean.

Having been born back east, I am familiar with the what-to-do's...well, sort of. I'd never had to use a gas stove to try to maintain some remanence of heat in the house. Never needed to fill the bathtub with water in case a pipe froze over or burst--which one did on day four. Didn't think to turn my cold laundry room into a makeshift refrigerator to try to save as many perishables as possible, not at least until my husband thought to do so.

In my defense, back east deals with this yearly. Snow falls and ice storms are not just expected, they're a way of life.

But here, confusion settled over the south like a wet blanket threatening to squeeze the life out of you the moment you struggle.

Salt the roads--what's that even mean (bless those neighbors who'd never heard the term)?

It means I'll never put off doing the dishes each night. It means I'll never ignore the laundry when one of our baskets is threatening to overflow. It means, those leftovers in the fridge--that's what's for dinner!

Needless to say, we survived; the power's back on, the Internet has resumed it's staple in life, and the heater is running hot again! That special needs kid...let's just say is two movies in to a night-long marathon of Disney characters!

Expect the unexpected. Buy those extra canned goods. Gas up your car. Make sure there are extra batteries and flashlights and candles in the junk drawer.

In other words...bring it on, Mother Nature--we're ready!