The phone call came at 5:40 this morning advising that school is closed due to "inclement weather." Quite the understatement as I listen to wind howl and blow horizontal snow. It seems the perfect way to end a week of extreme weather conditions.
Last Sunday we had an ice storm that left us without power from Sunday night through Wednesday morning... a total of about 53 hours. We cooked by flashlight and played "pioneer family" Monday night, huddled around the kitchen stove and snuggling under down comforters. Tuesday morning I allowed myself to be deluded by the bright sun and ignored the fact that the temperature inside was steadily approaching the freezing temperatures outside. That is until my sister got an update from the electric company and helped me grasp the reality that we wouldn't have power until late Wednesday.
I wanted to stick it out but the cats were sneezing, my husband couldn't sleep, and I had to get my family someplace warm. So I spent the day packing for everyone, including the three cats, emptying the refrigerator and freezer, and preparing to check into a nearby hotel for two nights. When it came time to pack for me, the first thing I grabbed was my favorite rosary. Never mind the clothes or jammies or toiletries, I instinctively went for that which would give me the fortitude I needed to see this situation through.
I never did have a chance to use it. We checked in at 5pm, went out for dinner, spent the evening watching TV and making sure the cats were okay and went to bed early. The next morning when my husband stopped at the house on his way to work, the power was back on... twelve hours earlier than projected. So he called in late and drove my daughter to school while I packed everything up all over again.
I pretty much passed out Wednesday night, but not before praying and giving thanks for our safety and comfort. A simple chain of beads perhaps but this week, my rosary once again proved to be my real shelter from the storm.
Last Sunday we had an ice storm that left us without power from Sunday night through Wednesday morning... a total of about 53 hours. We cooked by flashlight and played "pioneer family" Monday night, huddled around the kitchen stove and snuggling under down comforters. Tuesday morning I allowed myself to be deluded by the bright sun and ignored the fact that the temperature inside was steadily approaching the freezing temperatures outside. That is until my sister got an update from the electric company and helped me grasp the reality that we wouldn't have power until late Wednesday.
I wanted to stick it out but the cats were sneezing, my husband couldn't sleep, and I had to get my family someplace warm. So I spent the day packing for everyone, including the three cats, emptying the refrigerator and freezer, and preparing to check into a nearby hotel for two nights. When it came time to pack for me, the first thing I grabbed was my favorite rosary. Never mind the clothes or jammies or toiletries, I instinctively went for that which would give me the fortitude I needed to see this situation through.
I never did have a chance to use it. We checked in at 5pm, went out for dinner, spent the evening watching TV and making sure the cats were okay and went to bed early. The next morning when my husband stopped at the house on his way to work, the power was back on... twelve hours earlier than projected. So he called in late and drove my daughter to school while I packed everything up all over again.
I pretty much passed out Wednesday night, but not before praying and giving thanks for our safety and comfort. A simple chain of beads perhaps but this week, my rosary once again proved to be my real shelter from the storm.
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