Howling wind and smashing rain against the window. That’s how I woke up this morning an hour earlier than usual. I had just been up at 4:30 with my daughter who was worried about monsters, but said ‘you keep me safe mama?’. There was no rain yet, except those few sweet tears from me after hearing my daughter say I was her life raft.
Upon jerking awake this morning hearing the downpour and angry winds, I realized it was lifeboat time. Our house always loses power and takes DAYS to get back on. We live in a pocket with maybe 10-12 houses in our circuit (or whatever… I’m not a lineman expert… lol) and we are low on the priority line. Who do you have to know to bump your area up in the status list??
Anyways. After waking up, looking outside and then referencing Facebook for weather posts- I realized this was not good. Yep. Took all those steps. Geez lady. Get it together.
I briefly debated going to retrieve my trashcan (which is a five minute walk down our driveway) but decided it’s probably gone (sorry neighbors. I’ll totally volunteer for Spring clean up. Which, judging by the weather, will be next weekish). Popped on a hoodie and went outside (no shoes, btw,clearly in panic mode) in the icy rain to gather up the loose items on the porch. Did the same in the backyard and secured the gate which was slamming against the house. And then again in the side yard. Phew. My ‘North Pole’ sign is definitely gone… maybe at the North Pole.
When I came back inside my son was standing at the bottom of the stairs on the verge of tears because ‘The Monster of the Backwoods’ was banging on the house. We turned on the news, made toast and listened to the rain and the water running in the kitchen while I filled up water jugs. We have a well, so no power means no water. At the moment we have filled water jugs (those big blue ones we use for the summer at the cabin and trailer), filled pitchers lining the counters in my kitchen and filled old juice jugs in each bathroom (for flushing, if we get that far). Better safe than a house smelling like kid urine! That’s what I always say… or something.
Outside there is no power. Anywhere. Except our pocket of 10-12 houses. Knock on wood- because this is not normal. As I write this we are a bright spot in the Anchorage/Peters Creek and Matsu Area. That’s about half the population of Alaska (for a reference point).
Side note: I’m reading a book about a storm that doesn’t stop and destroys a lot of the world. I started it last night. Could have triggered my intense response to this morning’s wake up situation.
Extra Side note: My kids have a recent obsession/anxiety about monsters. Maybe this stems from our Disney trip? It’s weird.
Last thing: This blog has no real point or conclusion… cause it’s still storming outside. But my power is on and writing is really helping calm my anxiety about trees smashing our house (my grandparents in WA just had a giant redwood smash their dining room- it was 3 ft in diameter!) or my husband’s truck blowing away. When he’s here to talk me down, I’m generally fine, but when I’m not grounded my panic escalates quickly. Thanks for being my outlet!
Not Quite An Alaskan Gypsy 