Winter has always been the same for me. Every year it's the same cold, wet snow piled high everywhere you look. I hate the cold, so the hate of winter somehow finds it's way to me each year. Though there is one winter in particular that stands out in my mind. The winter of the ice storm.
An ice storm may seem like nothing big, nothing life changing but it actually gave me a new perspective on life.
I was in the 7th grade at the time, so my computer addiction along with my lust to be popular were both at their peak . I never wanted to be with my family. I spent all my time either hanging out with my friends, or chatting with them on AIM. I was actually on the computer at the time it happened.
The electricity suddenly went out, leaving me speechless and computerless. But quicker than we could even light a few candles, it came back on. Relieved, I turned the computer back on and got back to my friends. No sooner than I could start a conversation about what party we just had to be at, did the electricity go out once again. How dare a storm end a conversation between two preppy tweens.
To my dismay, the electricity didn't come back on that night. But I reassured myself with the thought that I would wake up and we would have power the next day.
I woke up the next morning to find it wasn't just a harmless winter storm. Everything outside was covered in a thick layer of ice. We weren't allowed outside and the entire city was left with no electricity. To me the only good thing I could find about this situation was the trees looked beautiful. And they really did.
My mom was listening to the radio, and our favorite radio station had been turned into an all talk radio, where anyone could call in and ask questions, or give other listeners tips on how to survive the storm. Pretty boring, if you asked me. But there was nothing else to do, so I listened with her.
There was one caller in particular that I remember. We still look back on this and laugh, almost 4 years later, and I'm sure we'll still be laughing at it for years to come. It was a man, and he said his famous line as if he was telling us the most important information in the world. "I would just like to inform you . . . there has been an ice storm!"
Everyone in the entire city of course knew this, I mean, just by glancing outside that was easy to see. But we laughed at it, and soon I began to enjoy hearing the callers. I listened and got excited when I heard voices I knew. I loved hearing the funny people that lightened the mood during our small crisis.
Our electricity was out for one week and two days. Many people didn't have power for even longer. At first I didn't even know what to do with myself. What was I to do without a computer or TV?! I entertained myself with reading for a short time period but was unable to keep myself occupied.
Everyone in my family was bored. We began playing board games together, and it was actually really fun. We found the most interesting ways to stay entertained. There was no school, and every restaurant or store was packed. So we kept ourselves busy at home, actually talking. I learned things about my siblings I had never known before, and I'm sure my parents did too. I realized we never actually talked at my house.
Although a week and two days with no electricity sounds like such a long time now, it flew by. Pretty soon the roads were cleared, most of the city had power again, and we could go back to school. Everyone was happy to have warm shower water and heated houses, but I was actually sad it was over.
We would have to drift back into our schedules where we didn't talk or enjoy our time together. Everything went back to normal, but I didn't feel normal anymore. I felt like a real person for once. Someone who enjoyed the simple things in life and thought about my family and not just stupid material things.
If I could have another ice storm, I would do it in a second. I want that beautiful ice to cover everything again, I want the time with my family, just playing board games and listening to the radio.
There were a few people who got to keep their electricity for that week. They think they're lucky, but I would have to disagree.
