I woke this morning to a frozen landscape outside my door. I was very excited about having a nice cozy afternoon with no place to go, watching movies, having hot chocolate-one problem changed our plans-we had no power, in fact most of the area had no power. It was one of those days that you really appreciate the simpler things, like being able to cook, make coffee, surf the web, oh and lights and heat would be good. The fish tank was beginning to get cold too-the fish were at the bottom almost in a stupor. Our first position was waiting it out, certainly we would have lights before long but the morning dragged with everyone staring at each other, I’ll make coffee, never mind, let me check the news, never mind and that habit of reaching for the light switch to be disappointed with an empty click and standing in the darkness feeling foolish. 

After a great walk around the block where my son and I discovered an oasis of donuts, coffee and Kolaches, we walked back through the treacherous streets hoping the many falling branches wouldn’t fall and kill us. It looked like a war zone, there were beautiful tall trees split at the trunk and the glass branches glittered in the gray afternoon bliss-okay I’m an optimist. After drinking the tepid coffee and eating the cold kolaches-it was a long walk in the cold-again we looked at each other with a bit of confusion. So now what do we do? 

I just started a late morning nap when my son blurted out-board games!!! What about board games? So the first game we played, as I reluctantly resurrected myself from the warm blanket and my peaceful slumber, was scrabble. You just can’t turn down a fifteen year old actually wanting enjoy a game with you-even if is the fact that we were captives to the ice storm. Just as we were into the game and really enjoying it and questioning why I ever hesitated my brother and his family stopped by, they too had no power. They brought some coffee, it was actually hot. My son and I went out and got some needed comforts, all ready-to-serve and bought yet another board game which I’m not sure you’ve heard of-“Monopoly”. How many hours have been spent playing that game and yet now with television, video games and internet-we barely remembered how to play. So just as we get home to a house where the heat is starting to hum, my son said something that struck me-“I hope the power is still out.” I just thought it was sad how far we had come where the only way we were forced to play a game and not be distracted was with the most fortunate ice storm.I considered it a bit of an addiction to media and decided the power would stay off for the length of a game of monopoly. Okay we didn’t play in the dark, we’re not savages and we weren’t having to bundle up with the blessing of having heat but the television stayed silent and the computers never opened and the Xbox missions were all postponed for my son to literally monopolize the whole game and steal every last cent I had. I think he’s going into business for himself next year and I think I might invest in what ever he starts as he’s quite a mogul.