Always How it Goes

Our power came back on Friday night.

Grandmas was still out.

Saturday it was still out.

We were starting to worry. What about the pipes?

We had always figured hers would be on first, since she kind of lives in town.

Sunday it was still out.

Was the pressure of the city water enough to keep the pipes from freezing?

Sunday night we called the power company for an update. Apparently she was grouped with 10 other homes. That makes 11. That makes a group of just 11 homes a lower priority than any larger group.

Finally Monday morning I decided to try and get some heat in her basement to keep the pipes from freezing. The low for the night was supposed to hit single digits. We had to do something.

I have 2 kerosene heaters. One needed a new wick installed, which I had. The other was a in an unknown status. I decided to try the unknown first hoping it would just work. Turns out it needed a new wick too.

Fine. Replace the wick in the other one.

Now this is Monday morning. I’m supposed to be at work. I’ve never done this before. I decide it will be easier and quicker to just go buy a heater. I head off to the hardware store(s). Nobody has anything.

After wasting a couple of hours trying to find something, I head back home to fix mine.

Finally I get it fixed. Now I have to find, then wait in line for kerosene.

Finally I’m at her front door at noon. I open the door. Walk in and find the lights on.

Great!

I pack it all up and head back home, then finally to work.

You know if I hadn’t spent the time, the power wouldn’t have come back on.

At least now my kerosene heater works again. I think.

– b