It was a reprise of the 2007 ice-storm when we were without power for nine days. This time we had no power for four and half days. Difference between the two major events is that the first was in December with freezing rain, saturated ground, and a declining interior temperature when I was able to get enough power to run the sump-pump (hand bailing the sump every few hours is annoying), the refrigerator, the gas furnace, a few lights, and the Internet; this time it is summer, so not enough power to run the AC—only fans, the refrigerator, a few lights, and the Internet. Surrounding these major events are the minor power outages that force the acquisition of flashlights, oil lamps, candles, and camp stoves.
This time I felt like Chief Engineer Scott of the Enterprise, running on the impulse power of a 2kW generator, diverting power to where it is needed. Definitely unsafe, but in extraordinary circumstances one must deploy extraordinary measures using what one has to hand.
Making the Best of It
Since I have lived here, since 1982, I have experienced more power failures than I ever did in the UK or Europe. Generally, these events are opportunities for ingenuity, making the best of a poor situation, and stabilizing the people in one’s immediate vicinity.
As Earth’s climate becomes ever more extreme, these events will become more frequent. Gaia, entirely impartial, will smite us all equally. Climate will flip into a new stable state, one that will make the existence of humanity extremely difficult or untenable. How bad does it have to get before we join together to care for and nurture the planet back to health? Earth is a spaceship, the good ship Gaia on which we can all be good stewards.
I am one person among too many. All I can do is the best I can to mitigate prevailing conditions for those around me. Lately, we’ve been having wars, pestilence, plagues, fascist authoritarian Antichrists that look like Apocalypse Now! What to do? Well, a nice cup of tea helps one face the inevitable.
What is wonderful about All Souls Unitarian Church is the they really mean “All Souls”, even heathens like Andrew Donovan-Shead who can usually be found at The Point Humanist Hour. Acquainted with All Souls since 1982, Andrew joined the community in 2008, thereabouts. Read more from Andrew on beyondbelief.online.
Cover photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
Recent Comments