Going On 13 Days:
Patience Is A Virtue, But I Don't Have The Time.
It is twelve days without electric, twelve long and now cold
days. The counties have imposed odd/even rationing to help ease the endless
lines at the gas pumps. All in light (pun intended) of the wake of Hurricane Sally "Victims"
who are ripping out walls in the first
stage of trying to rebuild their homes. Luckily I lost little of value during the aftermath.
Truth be told when all is said and done all I really lost was my patience in dealing with the Long Island
Power Authority. While NEVER a fan of LILCO/LIPA or whatever they change their name to, this, 12 days, is mind
numbing. I understand that I among of
the fortunate few . I know of people whose lights did not even flicker
for one second and their lives not
disrupted at all. Bless them. While still others in the middle lost power ,
heat, internet service, cell service, and
like me their patience awaiting
reinstallation of these conveniences. Let us not forget that, these are merely conveniences, amenities to which we have
become accustomed. The majority of people I know lost everything, everything they ever worked for. Homes, furniture, clothes,
pets, mementos, jewelry all while escaping the rising tides with their loved ones, running for their lives with only
the clothes on their backs. Returning to what was their home, now when the waters subsided days later, to find devastation so unbelievable. A home, now a shell of a house.
According to reports broadcasted on my local radio station my areas lights were scheduled to return in 5 or 6 days after the
storm, maximum. As we neared that date further reports
indicated a return would now be eight days. Then at 12 days LIPA's Chief announced that attempts to return our area were interrupted by a Nor'easter. Convenient,
yes, and somewhat a legitimate excuse in
their defense. Yet, Four inches of snow deposited on the area and now freezing
cold temperatures with NO heat, I am getting angrier by the minute. While the
hum of generators loom loudly in the air, with Gas stations now
having lines of walk-ups, I sense most people on those lines are patiently
waiting their turn for gas to heat their
cold homes. And now while on line the radio announcer states that LIPA asks for
those without service to check LIPA's website for a map and the new
anticipated return to service date, now called" re-electrification"
in affected areas. Having had no power to gain internet service what am I
expected to do. So, I do the old fashion thing, contact LIPA via
my land line only to hear LIPA's message,
a recording which goes on forever, with no useful information and most
certainly no human contact.
My battery powered radio becomes a close friend as it is my connection to the outside
world. Soft music and frequent local updates
help pass the time. Yesterday the trees
were removed from the streets and traffic flowed . Schools which had been
closed for days, reopened to kids who were now "displaced" from their
homes, some living in other communities with relatives, some in motels. Having lost their clothes ,books, study
areas and homework Kids ask:
Where's my new bus stop? Hey, Dad, I know we lost our ATM card and
checkbook but what do I do about lunch money? The Teacher questions administration: We lost a
week of instruction and my students textbooks are gone yet the state expects us and our students to take the exams in the spring???? Exams in which
results will be listed on the schools and teachers evaluations. And my
grandkids ask: Papa, what happened to Halloween?
Yet, all I'm worried about is my lights...???
jazzbus@gmail.com
