Blackout
All the lights went out, just like that. My house and the neighborhood without power. With a little scrambling, I found a flashlight, a lighter, candles, and our oil lamp. Outside, I found a neighbor who confirmed that the light rail crew working at S Alaska ST and MLK cut the wire by mistake. Even the street lights were dark.
After Hurricane Katrina, I knew that our disaster plan and supplies were inadequate. This blackout underscored that. In the dark, I could barely find my shoes. So this weekend I’m preparing emergency kits for the house, following lists from Equipped to Survive and San Francisco’s 72hours.org.
Luna’s pumpkin candles filled the second story with scent and flickering light. Little Sophie stared at one, a strange glowing ball, with great interest. The scene reminded Luna of her childhood in Vietnam. They might have power only three days out of the week, or the lights might suddenly go out just as they had this evening. Their family would gather around a candle. Her mother entertained the children by telling funny stories.
Ha! The lights just came on. I’m glad for it. But in the darkness and silence of the last two hours, I saw that, absent the background din of radio, television, and the internet, it’s possible to concentrate. It’s easier to focus by the feeble light of a single candle, and to meditate on what is and is not meaningful.
Tags:disaster luna sophie