It has been over seven days since then and I am still without power. I see pictures of blown away homes, flooded and devastated neighborhoods and you can see how the heartbreak and stress are eroding away people’s humanity.
So what have I done to cope? Paramount was focusing on the immediate and basic needs of the family: food, water, warmth, fuel, cleanliness. While one of us focused on getting these basics met, the other focused on taking care of the kids.
We created a new routine for my two kids so that there was a “new normal”. The baby was too young to notice anything amiss, although he had gotten his first cold. We lavished attention and care on the toddler so that his sense of security in a ravaged world wasn’t entirely shorn. When it was safe enough to walk outside, we had fun cleaning up the yard. We also talked about the big storm and how it made the trees fall down. We mourned their loss while also marveling at the change of our landscape. My son learned about this thing called “power” and how deeply embedded it is in our lives. It was a relief to know that the only thing that bothered him was being in the dark at night. He was infinitely happier playing with us than sitting in front of a TV or doing something electronic.
While the day was about making sure we had food, gas, staying warm and healthy, night was about waiting, waiting for the power to come back. Between nursing the baby and sleeping next to the older one who would cry out at night, there wasn’t too much for this angst. Yet the anticipation and the anger were still there. In the stillness of the night (thank you daylight savings for ending so that the kids go to bed earlier), it was all too easy to get angry at the absent power company. At this time I found solace in cleaning up the house after a day’s worth of play, spending time with my partner, and reading a good book.
I talked to friends and family. My parents and sisters were as supportive as they could be. I would vent my frustration at the power company. I had already seen multiple Verizon, cable, and tree cutting trucks yet not one from the electricity company. What kept me the most sane and connected to the outside world was our town’s twitter feed and email listserve. People shared which gas stations were opened and had the fewest lines, who had power or had not, which grocery stores and restaurants were open, and places to donate frozen food. Being connected to the community, even in this virtual way, was essential in keeping me from feeling alone and losing hope.
While exhausting and seemingly never-ending, there was a beautiful silver lining to this tragedy. My family got to spend more time together this past week than we had in years.
What is your story? What has helped you cope in this or other difficult times?
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