Last night I flipped the light switch in an upstairs bedroom and the whole house went dark. I asked every homeowner’s favorite question: now what? Then lights back on. Then off. On. Off. Off…off…
I found myself in a world of India ink. Not a glimmer, not the tiniest shard of light. Groping is a graceless ballet, but just so did I find the stairs, the banister, and warily make my way down. Why, you may ask, did I not think to grab the flashlight that’s upstairs? Because it’s me.
Bumping along, I looked out the front windows. A world without light. Disorienting, unsettling. As I inched through the house, a timid glow startled me. My battery candles! Beacons! My feet steadied immediately, and I made it to the back door, next to my shadowy Christmas tree. The houses across the pond were black. Not a light anywhere. It was as though every person in the world was gone but me.
A lightless world is an empty world.
The power company did me the courtesy of calling to tell me there was a power outage. Really?
Why are the robots never programmed to tell the customer what happened? So far as I could tell, I flipped the switch in an upstairs bedroom and shut down a small city.
How oppressive that solid, unforgiving darkness. What a slamming shut of life. Our fears are never far from us, are they?
Oddments 
December 29, 2021 at 12:55 pm
I am impressed with your power, Maureen. One flip of the light switch and the community goes dark. 🙂 Of all the things we take for granted, electricity has to be #1 on that list. When a person loses power to the house, it is like the ship has lost its rudder. I hope it was close enough to bed time, to crawl into bed with an extra quilt, a book light, and a good book. I also hope the power is back on. 🙂
December 29, 2021 at 1:30 pm
Thanks for the laugh. Yes, I am the original empowered woman! As for bedtime, anything after 8:00 qualifies. This morning the lights are on and coffee is hot! Deo gratias! I am so much braver with light and coffee!
December 29, 2021 at 2:09 pm
YES – light and coffee give hope to the day. Have a good one.
December 29, 2021 at 2:12 pm
Thank you! You too!
December 29, 2021 at 4:05 pm
Hi. I’m wondering if your cell phone has a “lantern” option (a light button). Gosh, I’d be lost without mine from time to time!
December 29, 2021 at 6:02 pm
Not that I know of, but if I’d just had the presence of mind to get the flashlight upstairs, that would have helped!
December 29, 2021 at 6:25 pm
Yes! But we are SO never expecting to be suddenly plunged into darkness! There’s (to me) a special beauty to it outside — but only if I’m holding light!
December 29, 2021 at 5:00 pm
I once changed the station on my television, and the whole house – and street – went dark. How peculiar and startling.
We are so accustomed to electricity… I think of ancient folks when they discover fire, how it changed their world and I keep candles and matches, just in case my modern world fails.
Make sure to have another flashlight downstairs too 😀
December 29, 2021 at 6:06 pm
Ah, yes, the flashlight(s) downstairs! I did eventually remember I had them — the candles reminded me! I confess I laughed to read about your change of channel. Wow. These are some serious powers we wield.
December 31, 2021 at 3:34 am
What does that switch really control?
December 31, 2021 at 9:15 am
There’s the question! I approach it with some uncertainty these days. (Is that the theme from “Twilight Zone” that I hear?)
December 31, 2021 at 1:22 pm
It might be. The Twilight Zone Marathon is off and running. I suggest you zone in on “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street” – Oddly similar to your situation.
December 31, 2021 at 12:56 pm
You’ve reminded me of the look on babies’ faces when they first are shown that by pressing a switch they can illuminate a room. I am sure your face was a similar picture when you thought you could darken the world. At least you were prepared, though it is not nice when the power fails, especially at night. I trust the power is back on again?
December 31, 2021 at 9:31 pm
Yes, thank heavens. I don’t care for that much dark.