Lights Out

We were advised last fall when we purchased the little red cottage to expect frequent power outages.   Last night we experienced our first.

It began around 3 p.m. when a fast and furious thunder storm blew through the area.  We had made the (in hind sight) poor decision to check out one of the small towns on the Ohio side of the lake and stock up on some groceries.  (Mother Hubbard's cupboard was bare.)  As we entered the local Ace Hardware store there was rumbling in the distance.  By the time we paid for our purchases and returned to the parking lot the rumbling had given way to gusty winds and a very ominous looking sky.  Soon after the sky opened up and the rain began to fall.  I am convinced the flood gates of heaven had been opened.  We pressed on. Eventually the storm ceased, the groceries were procured, and all was right with the world.

We returned home a couple of hours later to find the power was out in the neighborhood.  (Weren't we lucky we had stopped at a local watering hole to partake in "wing" night before heading home.)  The Kid dug out our old propane lantern from our camping days 30 years ago.  What a surprise to find it no longer functioned...properly.  Fortunately we had stocked up on flashlights and batteries last fall.  We were prepared.  We settled in to enjoy the evening.

It was all reminiscent of our stay at Reef Knot cottage in Maine two years ago.  (You can read about it here.)  We were forced to sit quietly and observe as darkness descended on our little bay.  It didn't take long for the fireflies to emerge.  Their tiny lights blinking on and off in random patterns conjured up long forgotten memories from our childhoods.  The Kid located an old battery operated radio and attempted to find a baseball game but was forced to settle for a static filled oldies station.  I entertained myself with solitaire and eventually tried my hand at reading by flashlight.  After several hours, we called it quits and went to bed.  I drifted off to sleep planning my strategy for how I might snag a cup of coffee on the off chance we would awaken to more of the same.  Much to my relief the power kicked back on sometime around 3 a.m.

I share all of this with you because I want you to know that it's darned dark in the country when the lights go out.