In the Dark

Where were you in the great blackout of 2003? That is, if you lived in the northeastern United States during that time? I remember I was at a friend's house in the afternoon, and the lights started experiencing "brownout," growing dimmer intermittently. Before we left to go home, the real blackout had started. It took about twice as long to get home, since there were no traffic lights working anywhere. Although it was a hot day, our home stayed relatively cool inside for a few hours, and by the time we had to open the windows, it was night and the temperature outside had grown comparatively cooler. I spent the evening lying on the family room floor to get optimal air movement and listening to the battery powered radio.

It is true that the blackout illustrated how much we use electricity for things. However, while I do think one should prepare for disasters, natural or otherwise, I don't really want to eschew modern conveniences if I can avoid it! Maybe that's my "old Adam" trying to avoid discomfort and extra work! But even in Laura Ingalls Wilder's The Long Winter, the blizzard "whiteouts" of 1880-81 nearly caused a small town to starve to death by blocking the trains that delivered food and coal. Of course, seven months without regular supplies coming in, and no way to grow anything, go fishing, or even hunt effectively would be hard on any family!

But hey, as a dear pastor once said to me, "Eat, drink and be merry: you're Lutheran!" So light a candle, open a cold one of Blackout Stout, and enjoy God's gifts!


As a quick aside, I'd like to give thanks for another of God's gifts, books, and give a hat tip to The Laughing Frog for alerting me to Keven Stilley of Righteous Judgement, who not only tabulated lots of people's answers in the book meme that's been making the rounds (even Martin Luther joined in!), but alerts us to the guy who started the whole thing, so if you want revenge on the guy, now you know where to look! (JOKE!!! Barb the Evil Genius does not endorse, condone, or recommend anyone using violence except when coerced by her in her secret plan to take over the planet!)