Another blackout

Thunderstorm warnings went off yesterday. As I was leaving a friend's apartment after dinner (and there was electricity at her place, although the lights flickered twice during our meal), I was surprised to see that all the traffic lights and street lamps had gone out. The rain and lightning hadn't even arrived yet; only huge winds that tossed dead leaves and plastic bags around (one flying straight for my windshield), very neo-gothic style, especially in the dark streets markered with the silhouettes of spindly tree branches.

I was sending another friend home and we reached her apartment only to find all the windows pitch black and our fears realized. Great, how are we supposed to do our homework now? Clearly, only certain residential areas were affected and the unlucky ones would have no way to do any productive work while the rest of Ann Arbor carried on their usual nocturnal duties. I went home, parked the car, and stared out at the black rows of windows and a fierce red sky, listening to the wind howling. I actually like the furious, hollow sound of strong winds (especially if I'm already on my doorstep and well aware that safety and warmth are half a minute away), such a beastly portent of other weather furies to come.

I stayed outside till my fingers were numb and then entered the hallway with the light of my mobile phone to lead the way. Three things I'm grateful for:

1. Christine, my sister-in-law, insisting that I take a torchlight/radio gadget to keep by my bedside. She gave this to me after we left NYC this summer, after the historical blackout.

2. My mom chatting with a lady shopper in Kroger. The lady was looking through the candles leftover from the Halloween stocks. She told my mother that since they were on sale, she had better stock up in case of emergencies. My mom thought I ought to as well, but I declined the orange and pumpkin-shaped candles, and picked out some Glade ones instead.

3. After procrastinating for over a month, I finally got to the Smoker's Shop last week to pick up some Zippo fluid and new flints and wicks. I did this soon after my mom had left, mainly to distract myself from her departure. Admittedly, there are better and more useful methods of distraction than amusing oneself with a Zippo (don't ask me why I have one when I don't smoke, I just keep certain things in my small black bag: compass, lighter, USB pen drive, rosary, two lip balms, gum, metal pick, tissue, oil blotters, compact powder and other assorted chick things), but choosing to do so at least provided me with something to light those new candles with.

I'd never have guessed that I'd have to face another blackout after experiencing one in New York. When others spoke of preparing for other blackouts, I scoffed. What were the chances of another one occuring? Surely the power stations - for sake of their reputations - would not risk letting another one happen? I did listen to Lin Kiat's advice, however, and in September, bought a huge case of drinking water to store in my wardrobe, but I put off buying candles for a long time, until my mother pressed me to do so.

Because I'd already read two essays for class the next day, I didn't really worry too much about my homework, only about the food in my fridge. Would I really have to throw out my ice-cream and all those yummy frozen (and thawing) meats that my mother had lovingly stored away for me? Apart from that worry, I quite enjoyed the darkness and the solitude. I lay in bed with my discman, watched the changing light from some unknown source pour through the blinds in the window, and fell asleep at last. An early night, for once!

Note: Power returned for thirty seconds at about three in the morning (I think, can't be too sure), and then everything went dead again (much to my horror). Full power came back again (and stayed) at six this morning. I'm pleased to report I didn't have to throw out any food or ice-cream!

Go here to read more about the storms and blackout in Michigan.

Posted by Monoceros at November 13, 2003 8:43 AM