You can’t be dry in the dark

/ J. F. Riordan

Yesterday was a curiously lost day. It was a little bit worrying to realize how much I depend upon technology, and how lost I was without it.

It was a busy day for us, however. There were branches hanging heavily with snow needing to be brushed off or beaten with a broom to keep them from breaking. There was the driveway to clear, along with the two foot high barricade of ice from the snowplow. And there were fallen branches to remove and add to the growing bonfire pile, all to the cheerful accompaniment of playful dogs.

But once we had done what could be done, we came inside to a strangely silent house.

At one point, cold, but too grubby and unshowered to go anywhere other than the hardware store, I just drove around, charging my phone and listening to music, while my exhausted husband napped. The snow was beautiful in the sunshine.

Later, despite my hair—which made me look as if I’d just been released from the local asylum—we went to a nearby restaurant for wifi, and by mutual consent, put Dry January on the ash heap of history. We met our favorite neighbors there, by chance. They had also been caught in the clutches of Dry January, and had thrown it over the night before, when their tree took out everyone’s power line. We traded anxieties about frozen pipes, spoiled food, and what to do if there was still no power on Sunday. They, too, have a pair of big sweet dogs, which we agreed tends to make you unpopular with hotel management. Our conversation was interrupted by several recorded phone calls from the power company, dangling hope with laughable vagueness.

Nevertheless, on the way home, parked alongside the road to our house was an armada of utility trucks, and the big tree that had been leaning perilously on the main lines was gone. The dogs greeted us as if we’d been gone a month, even though it had been little more than an hour. The house was ridiculously dark and growing cold, so we settled into a very early bed, with dogs and the gas fireplace to keep us warm, buckets of snow on the hearth, downloaded movies, and a decanter of Irish whisky.

This morning, the heat is on; hot coffee was waiting when I got up at 3:30; and my computer is up and running. In a little while I will reload the dishwasher and finish restoring the kitchen to its normal cheerful order. Most important: we will be able to watch the Packers game this afternoon.

As with so many life experiences, we have come away with an important lesson learned.

January is no time to give up alcohol.

***

Gratuitous Dog Photo

Eli kept his big coat on all day.

39 thoughts on “You can’t be dry in the dark”

  2. Dry January, like National Novel Writing Month in November, is at a terrible time of year. (Dry August might be better-it’s warm and you can go to the beach. Who has time to write a novel as the holidays approach? Not me.)

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    • I have been trying to think of a better month. Maybe June, because it’s spring, and things are blooming, so there are other things to intoxicate. In August I want to float in the lake at sunset and have a gin and tonic.

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  4. Your Reflections on Life are always the highlight of my day. You certainly had a busy day yesterday. I’m glad your power is back on and the coffee is hot. Enjoy your Packers’ game, hopefully surrounded by Auggie and Eli, and, perhaps a delicious liquid refreshment. Go Greenbay!!

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  5. It’s such a happy time when the power comes back on. Several years ago in January, we spent almost 5 days without power. After that experience, we had a whole house generator installed. It was one of the best decisions we ever made. I don’t like not having power…and neither do the dogs.

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  9. A happy and warm home this morning. Enjoy this day with your pals Eli and Auggie. Love your lively essay! Eli photo too.

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  10. So grateful for electricity. I will also be watching that all-important game today. From Bengals country: “GO PACK, GO!!!!!” 💛💚🏈

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  13. 😂 “…put Dry January in the ash heap of history.” I’m rooting for the Packers, as I have since 4th school when it got me in good with classmate crush Brian.🤣
    As to your power outage situation (I’ve been there a few times) the looming threat of frozen pipes is no joke. I am so glad that didn’t happen to you!

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  15. I am not exactly enjoying your calamities but I love the stories that you weave around them.
    I would go for Dry February – shorter month.

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  17. It’s 50° here in the San Fernando Valley suburb of Sunland and I’m freezing 😂. Love Eli’s paws peeking out. ❤️

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  20. Eli is a smart dog! Glad things are getting back to normal for you, and that you’re all safe and warm. It’s snowing here in Arkansas now, with arctic temps in the teens for the next few days. We are not accustomed to such brutal weather. Got my bushes covered, and am watching the Packers beating up on Dallas! Bottoms up!

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  21. It sounds as though you’ve had a very busy weekend. So glad to hear your power is back on and life, as we know it today, has returned to normal. Always love it when just as you get used to NOT flipping the light switch when entering a room, the power returns. No biggie.

    Love the pictures of Auggie and Eli sporting their winter coats. They look as warm as can be given the circumstances.

    No Dry January is worth it! Go Pack go!

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  22. One of life’s things that you don’t appreciate until you have an extended period without it. I’m glad you got the power back on. At least 20,000 people still without power here in Wisconsin.

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  23. As climate uncertainties continue, my advice (not asked for 🙂 would be to invest in a generator and whole house hook up (depending on the size can be done for under 2k easily). We live in NH and have experienced long duration power outages in winter (and summer) I was shocked into this need the hard way with an ice storm before Christmas in 2008 that lasted 7 days for us (longer for others) The sub zero temps gripping your area at this time are deadly. Glad your power came back sooner than later. ❤

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  24. I’ve not experienced it much, thankfully, but when the power comes back on it’s like when the Wizard of Oz goes from black and white to color. Cold existence to warm life.

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