No Longer Viewing Storms in the Same Way

I loved thunderstorms. I remember as a kid late at night standing on our duplex porch with my dad and neighbor watching storms roll in. Lightening and thunder never scared me, but fascinated me. This all changed last Friday night. Now I twinge when I hear the threat of severe thunderstoms, wondering if and when will another power outage will occur.

I never thought that small thunderstorm icon that flashed in the corner of my screen last Friday while I watched Dateline would have such an impact on myself, family and friends. I did, however, have the sinking feeling that once my electricity flickered off for good that I was in for something bad. The bad being the fact that when I woke up I still would not have electricity as the sun rose and was prepared to blaze a meerly 100-degree-plus temperature.

I ask myself why this was so different from the hurricane that hit last August and I spent 38 hours without electricity? Oh right, now we were in the middle of a heat wave that had no end in sight. And, I was a bit unprepared. I hadn't stocked up on bottled water, matches, candles, batteries and unperishable food. I know, I know, I should have an emergency kit like this on hand at all times. Then again, it only took me 17 years of driving to make such a kit for my car, so I might have few more powerless experiences until I really learn my lesson.

I won't tell you how many hours I was with out power this past week. It doesn't matter, especially to those who experienced many more hours. I won't tell you how much food I threw away from my fridge because I know others lost a lot more. I won't tell you where I stayed because others were not as fortnate as I was. But what I will say is I am thankful for all the people who helped make this week a little more bearable to me and those I care about. Thank you to the BGE and Pepco employees who worked 16-hour days. Thank you to the police and firemen who worked to keep residents safe. Thank you to drivers who actually stopped at the out traffic lights and proceedly slowly and with caution at intersections. Thank you to the places who opened up their pools, showers, etc free of charge to residents who needed them. Thank you to the workers who repair roofs and take down trees. You too, worked long hours. Thank you to the neighbors who looked out for their fellow neighbors. Thank you to residents who went out of their way to direct traffic, offer their homes, share electricity, loan generators and the list is endless. Thank you to everyone who helped someone during this horrific week. Thank you, Odenton, for being my neighbor in this time of need.