A blizzard was coming to town. I was as excited as a six year old anticipating the tooth fairy. Everyone else seemed to be down in the mouth about this weather phenomenon. My very own sister (warm and too toasty in Texas) doubted my enthusiasm.
"Are you sure you are prepared? Do you have the necessary provisions in case you are stranded for nine days."
Yes and yes. I had everything I needed. Books. Cats. Milk. Bread. Popcorn. Beer.
I guess the kids were home for Christmas.
I had been through hurricanes where the wind whips its nasty fingers tearing off roofs, uprooting trees, knocking down fences. Surely a blizzard is more beautiful. Powdery snow glistening on everything. I was told the wind would howl. But I would be inside snuggled in a soft blanket surrounded by four warm fur balls. My book would be my best friend and popcorn my nourishment.
Blizzard day arrived early on Tuesday morning. I stirred up a warm bowl of oatmeal. The snow drifted down covering the brown winter ground. It was looking like a winter postcard.
After breakfast warmed my insides, I curled up with the cats and a I-can't-put-you-down book by my favorite author. It was then I realized the wind wasn't howling. It was shouting and rattling my windows. I peered outside. Snow was flying by almost horizontal. This wasn't the peaceful scenario I envisioned.
All at once there was a chest rattling boom. Sixteen paws flew into the air and scrambled under the nearest piece of furniture.
"What in the world would make that noise," I wondered.
Looking out the dining room window I quickly snapped to the decision that I didn't like blizzards any more than I liked hurricanes.
There laying sprawled on the glittering snow was the top half of my seventy some year old pin oak tree. Under it lay hostage the electric wire to my house.
The electric wire! Oh no. Now I have no electricity. But wait. My lights were still on. I could hear the heater running. (Thank goodness! My blood has gotten thicker, but still has traces of being a southern California junkie.)
After a frantic thought of "What do I do now?" I called my sister. She's in Texas. She'll know what to do.
Yes, I called the electric company. They rushed right over in the storm. After surveying the damage and checking I did indeed have electricity, it was decided to leave everything until the storm was finished causing havoc.
The next day dawned sunny and bitterly cold. The electric company showed up as promised. The unexpected news was they didn't have the part to repair the damaged wire. I supposed since I still had light and warmth it wasn't a big deal. Except my truck was trapped in the garage. The tree and wire littered my driveway.
The electric company offered to cut the tree up to make it easier for them to repair things. Then they offered to cut down the remaining large stub of a tree. Which caused another sonic boom with cats scrambling in all directions.
The tree was cut up. The parts ordered to repair the wire. I found someone to come move the trees parts cluttering my driveway. But he couldn't come right away. And I had an appointment to keep in Texas.
Now what was I going to do...
To Be Continued...
