the lights went out
the house went dark
the heat went out
the house went cold
this all happened on what has been, so far, the coldest day of the year.
we huddled together in front of the fireplace and ate sandwiches that had picked up for up for dinner...
I put on my pajamas and crawled into my bed grateful for a warm blanket and two thick down duvets...
Alexander crawled in next to me
we turned on the flashlights
the other two crawled into their beds with laptops and e-readers
I lit some candles...
the house was dark and getting darker
the house was cold and getting colder
it was not very comfortable
in fact, it was quite uncomfortable
I sang Alexander to sleep as I do every night but last night he was curled up right next to me...
his little body providing me a great deal of warmth
on the coldest night of the year, so far.
Eventually I fell asleep to the songs on my iPod
only to be awoken an hour or so later by the failing battery in the smoke detector in the hallway.
I listened to it and tried to ignore it for two hours until I could take no more.
I hobbled out of bed. the old bones seemed older. colder
I fumbled with a stool and the smoke detector setting the entire thing off.
eventually old batteries were removed and new ones were put in their place
and I trudged back to bed in search of a peaceful slumber, glad to have my warm baby's body there waiting for me.
as the sun came up I yearned for my coffee. the children had an hour and half to be in school.
I brought them their clothes and told them that their warm bodies could warm their frozen clothes. I taught them how to dress undercovers as I did at summer camp on those cold August mornings.
to the kids it was all a game.
I promised them breakfast. at Duncan Donuts. junk food they exclaimed. suddenly they moved quickly!
as I sat, wide awake in my cold dark house last night suddenly nothing seemed important... I needed heat and warmth not fancy bags or shoes or cars... because when it comes down to it, without the basics, what is there?
the children were amused and thought this all a wonderful game. they want the power to go off every day. they want to go do dunkin donuts for breakfast every day!
the heat is on, as are the lights. i am thankful for the internet! i am thankful for my warm flannel pajamas that i placed under the vent just long enough...
i do this nightly... after my hot bath... the pajamas get placed under the heat vent in my closet on the tippity top shelf... and there is nothing better... nothing in the world... except maybe a nice glass of wine!