>An ice storm hit Oklahoma on Sunday. We lost power that night and woke to find my car like this:
The neighbors Bradford pear split—Half of it landed on my car, the other half crashed into our backyard. Max (who is a quick thinker in emergencies) went to Home Depot and got a gas-powered chain saw to cut the limbs from around my car. There’s not a single scratch or dent on it. A bent aerial—that’s it. Amazing! The last three days have been out of the ordinary, to say the least. We were without power 70 hours. Here are a few of my observations:
- I’m not as resilient as I thought.
- 54 degrees is cold inside your house.
- Tough times draw neighbors together. One neighbor borrowed my old-fashioned can opener to open dog food for his elderly labs. Meanwhile, he checked on and helped several retired neighbors.
- Max put the chain saw to good use helping get large fallen trees out of the street.
- Coffee (by the pot) from the local convenience store should never be taken for granted.
- Fast food is not fast when twelve cars snake around the drive through, and the lines inside are even longer. And no one complains. Hot food is worth the wait.
- Having no TV or Internet didn’t seem like much of an inconvenience.
- Cell phones are fantabulous!
Thousands are still without power. The cleanup will take months. Today I’m more grateful for the rush of warm air coming through our vents, the sparkle of Christmas lights on the tree, and my first cup of coffee made in my very own kitchen. I am blessed. More than I can imagine or deserve.