When the power goes, nothing else is possible

Last weekend there was an unprecedented five inches snowfall (in October)on the east coast of the US accompanied by gusty winds. They left a trail of devastation and millions of people without electricity as trees had fallen on the electric wires, damaging them.

I recalled my third visit to Connecticut to my daughter’s house, a couple of years back. One Saturday in September we woke to a sudden electricity failure. As it was summer, the weather was no problem but nothing worked in the house. We could not even make a cup of coffee as the heating arrangement was electricity driven. The microwave, fridge, nothing would work. We could not use the rest room as it was in total darkness and there was no hot water. No outside person could enter the row of apartments as the main door opened only to the command of an electronic combination number. If you jabbed xxx 5694, the outer door leading to the apartments would open. Otherwise no one could enter unless someone opened the door from inside. I had to go to New York that day, an hour’s train journey away and had to survive on hot coffee and doughnuts at the Norwalk station.

Last year I was in the US in February, the coldest month of the year. From December to March, the east coast experiences rainfall, snow, storms, winds and the temperature hovers between minus one and minus fifteen, even during daytime. It is bitingly cold even if the sun is shining brightly. One cannot venture from the main door to the car, just three yards away, without proper warm clothes, headgear, gloves, scarf et al.

My daughter’s children were very small , when one evening, it rained very heavily. The winds were stormy and soon there was a threat of electricity failure. The authorities rang us advising us to go to a shelter area arranged by them, if needed, where there was power. It was minus five degrees, freezing cold and wet, dangerous as the trees were swaying wildly, and my grandson was just fifteen days old and could not be taken out in such conditions at night. We kept all warm clothes ready, hunted for torches and camp stoves, and planned on spending the night in the cars as they were battery operated and could be depended to keep us warm till morning.

We checked the weather on the internet every half an hour as snow kept on falling. Somehow the electricity held on and we passed the sleepless night in relative warmth. There were people who went to hotels, friends or relatives in other areas where the weather was better and there was power.

One winter four years ago, my daughter kept her five month old daughter warm during a power failure by wrapping her in clothes and newspapers and holding her tight against her chest to give her body warmth.

If we have a power failure here in India, we can use our gas stoves for cooking and heating. Our weather is not a very big problem even if it is summer or winter. We can use rugs and razias if it is cold. We can open our doors and windows and sit in the shade if it is hot. We do not turn into an icicle or get roasted, however inconveniencing the power problem be. We should definitely count our blessings.