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Health & Fitness

Jealous of Power

Waiting for my power to be restored.

Now that Hurricane Irene is finished unleashing her wrath on my neighborhood, we take stock. We stroll the streets looking at the damage. We count ourselves lucky that we’ve escaped unscathed, and recognize what a shame it is that others did not.

But after checking in on our neighbors, making sure they are safe, realizing we are all in the same boat, our lack of electricity is the big buzz. We commiserate over having no hot water, we congratulate those that are smart enough to have invested in gas fired ovens and stove tops, we wave from our backyard grills, and we post on Facebook the nearest location that sells ice to fill our coolers. We are a team. We empathize with each other about the loss of food, of missed showers….we tell each other it could be worse.

And then…and THEN…the rest of the neighborhood gets power except my little side of the street. They are no longer in the boat. The teams become smaller. While the rest of the neighborhood is applauding, we are grumbling. The even side of the street stand in our driveways, gawking in amazement at the good fortune of the odd side. We look left and right at each other in shared disappointment. Why not us? Heads bowed, we trudge back into our darkened caverns. Dejected.

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But the whiff of motor oil, the grind of the pull cord, and the rumbling hum of my generator soothes me. I hunker down and watch tv, microwave my popcorn, my seltzer is chilled from the running fridge, my laptop is propped on my lap, battery charged, my cell phone keeps buzzing Facebook posts. But alas, I have to use the bathroom. I walk in and absent-mindedly flip the switch. Gosh DARN it. The light doesn’t work! It’s not on the generator grid. That is SO unfair! I have to pee in the dark!? The ODD side doesn’t have to pee in the dark. Bastards! I’m living like a savage here!

And you’re telling me I might have to wait DAYS before that one switch will work? The insanity! It was just a little old hurricane, downgraded to a tropical storm, no less, and I have to be without provided power for 48 hours and counting! How much longer will I be forced provide my OWN limited power? And my neighbors (those poor souls) are in complete darkness. They’ve relocated to relatives who are luckier than they. Family is so important in these trying times.

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I need to calm myself. I shouldn’t be jealous of my energy wealthy neighbors; it’s not their fault I’m being shunned by the power company. I’m happy for them. I am. Good for them. They deserve it…they’d be happy for me if the tables were turned. I’m just going to take a hot shower and go get an ice cold beer and wait this out. I can do it. I know I can.

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