I was an English major in college, specializing in nothing particular, but rather enjoying it as the profs were fascinating. Have you ever taken a course on Shakespeare taught from a Freudian viewpoint? Enacted Chaucer in the dialect of the time? Well, you get the idea. But if the truth is told, I am truly a reader of modern trash more than classics, and I often wonder about my tastes. It is only in the past few years that I have returned to more classical literature, admittedly in small doses, and of the early 1800s British variety. This means Wuthering Heights and Jane Austen and Frankenstein. The cruelty in Bronte’s book was stunning – I remember the hanging of the puppies, done out of boredom, with horror. Shelley’s monster is heartbreaking. And Austen? She is fluff by comparison, with a lightness that is like a summer breeze that can roll into capricious bursts.
It is quite funny to read Pride and Prejudice on my Kindle. A novel written with a quill and iron gall ink being read on an electronic device is quite a shift in time.
And then the electricity fails mid-afternoon. Sewing is out of the question (though I could use the treadle or hand-crank sewing machines), as is baking (I wanted a coffee cake). I went out to the side patio to listen to an audio book and comb out one of the dogs.
No electricity!
What do you do when it gets dark? All the USB devices were down to their last jolts of current. As light faded, I found my little section of town was dark, but two doors down the lamps were bright. I had a flashlight or two, and I had candles. Out came the candles, out came the Kindle, and on with Jane Austen, Darcy, and Miss Bennet! Wandering around the house, I found my way with the light of my Kindle, not wanting to drip wax on the floor or carpet, much less myself.
When the esposo came home, it was pitch black. We went out to dinner – who wants to scramble eggs using a flashlight to see by (or a candle) over a gas flame? Off to the other world to dine, and then return, once more, to our black hole.
And then to bed with the Kindles, to read Jane Austen and Terry Pratchett, to remember where the flashlights were, and hope there is electricity by dawn after a projection by the electric company that civilization would be restored by noon the next day.
And so it passed . . . the electricity returned in the middle of the night, the lights went on, the devices squawked, and the candles were, once more, obsolete.
Ink, Yarn & Beer 
I love your writing in this post -N. Sometimes doing without one modern convenience gives us such perspective. However, I’m glad it was just for a short while!
Thanks, Anne. You are right about perspective. Modern conveniences are much to be appreciated!
I was once without power for five days. In the winter. No heat, no light. It had a big impact on me– Even though I was a renter, I installed a wood stove. (with permission) I purchased oil lamps. Since we moved back to Michigan, we’ve taken back up systems seriously. We heat with wood. We have oil lamps and cook with propane (where at least the burners can be lit with a match.)
Then, over Thanksgiving at my mother’s, a 24 power outage put a crimp in the holiday cooking. We came home afterwards and Rick installed a small generator back up system. Not one of the fancy automatic switching things–just enough so that we could run lights and the well pump, in the event of a longer outage. Storms are getting worse, and we don’t have Kindles.
I grew up in the midwest and upstate NY – cold winters, chilly winds. Times were when the power was out and life became severely primitive! Hot water didn’t exist. You were cold to the bone. If we had an oil burner, I think we were okay, but that was so long ago! More fun as a kid, not so as an adult – too aware of potential disaster than kids.
I am in SoCal, and here we seldom feel the cold. Gas for heating, often for most cooking, but that electricity is so important! We plan on getting a generator – the house is wired for it – but haven’t done it yet. We should. And prep for earthquakes . . .
Sounds like you are quite ready for disasters. But, get a kindle – can read in daylight and night, and holds a charge a long time. I didn’t think I wanted one, but find I am quite happy with it – though I got the more expensive and ad-free one, I just wish I were more off the grid than I am.
Yes, please prep for earthquakes!
Some years ago, we had a major ice storm here. Power stayed out for six days. Following that, we installed a direct-vent gas fireplace and had the house wired for a gasoline generator. We test the generator monthly. Now, when the power goes out for any significant time, we have water, lights, internet and TV, and we can make coffee. Life can continue!
We really are bad at this … it’s always a tomorrow situation, and as you know, tomorrow never comes.
We should get off our duffers, for sure!
Sounds like fun! Not 🙂
Heheheheh!
This a slightly absurd and very fun story. Really enjoyed it.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. All the irony of the day was not lost on me.