Sandy

The following was composed Tuesday, 30 October, 2012:

You probably know much more about Hurricane Sandy than I do. We can’t watch the news or listen to the radio; we can’t surf the web on our laptops; we can’t even flush the toilets or fill a coffee pot from the faucet. We are, as we were after Irene, without power and without running water. 22 hours and counting.

Last time it was eight days; I’m hoping we don’t match that. United Illuminating, our electric provider, garnered a whole bunch of shit after Irene. Customers, legislators and governors all railed against them for how long it took to restore power. We’ll see if they do any better this time.

Luckily, we suffered no damage, at least none we’ve seen so far. Lots of trees came down in the woods – we heard one particularly large one last night – but none hit the house. (The image to the right only shows some very small trees that came down; far larger ones are further down the trail). The basement is dry and we are all safe, so there’s much to be grateful for. Another lost refrigerator/freezer load though – not so grateful for that.

I can’t help but think of my previous encounter with Sandy – my first boyfriend, 1972-1974. I was 23; he was 19. Remarkably, at those young ages, we were together two years and, when we did finally acknowledge we were no longer lovers, we continued to live together as loving roommates for six months, and remained friends for years.

Sandy was just as full of energy as was this storm, whose effects we are still feeling. Like a storm, he was unpredictable and spontaneous; that made me crazy at times, but it also showed me that there were other ways to see the world; my rigid, Army-brat upbringing was turned on its ear as Sandy forced me to question my behaviors and beliefs.

Unlike yesterday’s hurricane, Sandy did no damage. Like yesterday’s hurricane, he brought a mighty wind into my life, stirred things up and left me a better person. I think my fonder memories will always be of Sandy the man rather than Sandy the storm.

Addendum, Wednesday, 31 October 2012:

I am back at work and have just had a hot shower, courtesy of the Payne-Whitney gym at Yale. We still have no power at home, as is true of 70% of Woodbridge. Could be worse – 85% of Long Island is without power. As I surf the web for the first time in three days I am stunned by the storm’s effect on New York City. Learning that some subway tunnels and stations were flooded up to the ceiling tells me it’s going to be a long slog back to normalcy. I was in fact planning on going into the city tonight, but with no trains running I am not willing to face what would likely be a horrendous car commute.

So I’m enjoying my brightly lit Yale office, my fast internet connection and the ability to make a hot shot of espresso whenever I want. Tonight, another candlelit dinner with Ransom.

Or maybe a restaurant for a change. Cooking in the dark is getting old.