It’s Christmas Eve and the power is out.

I decided to spend a little time writing, but before I finished the piece I was working on on my laptop, the battery supplying power to the modem went out.

No more wifi.

I’m in the dark, in a rapidly cooling house.

And there’s no wifi.

Far too late into the experience, I remembered that I have about one million candles and got the brilliant idea to light some and write by candlelight.

I grabbed my phone and turned on the flashlight, hunted down the lighter and subsequently burned my thumb as I lit a 3 wick candle.

Now I am bundled under the various throws on the couch, listening to the ambience that is the ceaseless flap of my stove vent, the low-frequency, omnipresent hum of the neighbourhood generators, and the merciless howling winds, as I type on my phone with a singed thumb.

It’s really quite the scene.

I will eventually light the fireplace, but I am willing the power to come back on.

It hasn’t worked yet.

I should probably be willing the hydro workers to be willing to come out on this bitterly cold night, but I totally understand if that’s a hard no on Christmas Eve.

They have a thankless job in harsh conditions.

If they haven’t heard it recently, thanks hydro workers! We really appreciate you sacrificing your time with your family to help us be warm and safe with ours on nights like these.

Now, before my battery dies and I am left to read by the fire light, let me take a moment to wish everyone a warm, safe, and happy holiday.

And see this post for what it is, a cautionary tale to be prepared for extreme weather! 😁