For the past four days, time has been divided between daylight and dark. Without running overhead lights inside, most of my preparations for this Saturday’s workshop have had to be done in daylight. Work outside at the barn and with animals must also be done in daylight. Things like writing can be done in dark hours, by lamp light. I finished my final preparations for the workshop by daylight’s end yesterday evening (making homemade vanilla bean ice cream–from fresh cream–to go with the apple pecan raisin pies I had just baked). I had waited until then to drive out to replenish my gas supply, hoping the power would return. It started getting dark. I decided to give it up and go. Not half a mile out the road I realized there were lights on. Power was back on my road! Had this just happened since I left the house?
I turned around and went home to quickly realize I still didn’t have power.
Oh, the disappointment.
I turned around again, this time to continue on to the gas station. Halfway there, I found a congregation of power company trucks. I pulled up to one, rolled down my window, and told the man where I lived. He said he didn’t know where that was–he was from Florida. I described how to get to my farm and told him that everyone on my road had power but me. Maybe they forgot me! He said he thought somebody had just gone out that way. I told him the name of my road again, thanked him for coming all the way to West Virginia, and pleaded with him to remember to ask if anyone had gone out to the end of my road to fix my power. I went on to get gas, went home. No power…… But men in trucks were spotlighting the woods on my farm! I went to the trucks and they told me they were from Florida. I begged them not to leave until I had power.
Power company trucks in the road that runs through my farm.
They promised not to leave. More trucks arrived, until there were four trucks on my farm. I brought them muffins. And they fixed my power!
There will be nine attendees here today (almost my limit) and a food magazine editor. I’ve prepared all the food for this workshop this week with no power, and was prepared to continue today without power….
….but I AM SO GLAD TO HAVE POWER!
emmachisett says:
Hmmm,metinks MEN loves muffins…Thankgawd!
On November 3, 2012 at 1:37 am
Old Geezer says:
Never has that sign shone more proudly! It has found its true home.
(PS, ask the nice men in the trucks if they would please come up to Connecticut, where power has reached the main road outside our development but not into our development itself. I don’t have muffins but I might have some single malt lying around.)
On November 3, 2012 at 7:15 am
Diane says:
Glad you got power. So nice of them to get to you when you asked and I bet the muffins were greatly appreciated!!! Those guys do not get thanked enough during those times of big power outages. Its a hard job they do.
On November 3, 2012 at 7:36 am
STracer says:
As the sister-in-law and aunt of two men who have worked power restoration emergencies all up and down the east coast over the years – I can tell you that just kind words are far and few between for them at times. It is kind of scary how easily frustration can be turned on the people who are trying to help. A muffin would be the last they ever expected and greatly appreciated. Thank you for doing that for these men.
On November 3, 2012 at 7:57 am
KarenAnne says:
It’s astonishing how much criticism there is of power companies in terms of the time to restore power. The complainers probably think Rome was built in a day.
By the way, let me stamp out a nasty rumor (not that I’ve seen it here, but it keeps cropping up) – it is NOT true that non-union power company workers were turned away from helping New Jersey. Non-union workers ARE there.
On November 3, 2012 at 9:00 am
pugwaggin says:
Iam so glad you have power. Have a great workshop.
On November 3, 2012 at 9:45 am
bonita says:
Agree with old Geezer, that sign represents more than most visitors can realize. Your attendees should be uber impressed by your powerless preparations.
God bless the power workers who came from Florida and dozens of other states to help spread the light.
On November 3, 2012 at 10:03 am
STH says:
Those guys are heroes. I’m so glad you gave them treats and so glad you have your power back! Wish I could be there for the workshop!
On November 3, 2012 at 10:25 am
MMHoney says:
When God guides; God provides.
On November 3, 2012 at 2:04 pm
wannabeafarmgirl says:
So happy for you! Also remember the victims of Sandy…but for the grace of God!
On November 3, 2012 at 4:00 pm
Sue, a Florida Farm Girl says:
Our Florida power guys know how to handle things like that. Glad you have seen the light again!! Hope the day went well. I’m looking forward to pictures.
On November 3, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Peace Of Mind says:
I would like to reiterate the statement that Karen Anne made:
By the way, let me stamp out a nasty rumor (not that I’ve seen it here, but it keeps cropping up) – it is NOT true that non-union power company workers were turned away from helping New Jersey. Non-union workers ARE there.
My step-son from New Hampshire is non-union and Working 16 hr days/ 8 hr sleep to help as much as his crew can..those men appreciated those muffins and words of kindness…!!!!
I’m happy your power is back and your weekend went on as planned…
Blessed Be
On November 4, 2012 at 12:56 am
joykenn says:
So glad your power is back, Suzanne and my heart goes out to all the other folks still in the dark! It takes a good deal of time to replace downed poles and wires, to isolate and repair power connections. My husband (remember him for the latest Retreat) just retired from a company that manufacturers equipment for the electrical power industry–those high power fuses that blow in boxes on poles so annoyingly to prevent your homes from burning down when that is a power surge. People have been stockpiling equipment and getting geared up, canceling vacations to get ready for Sandy but there is only so much you can do to prepare.
Unfortunately some people don’t understand that presidents, govenors, mayors, etc. can’t control the weather and all the preparations in the world won’t get things back to normal as quickly as some people want. Sorry, but Nature is bigger and more powerful than us all.
On November 4, 2012 at 1:57 pm