Birthday, Storm and Giving

Almost a year.....sigh....... how have I gone this long without writing?  Really, I don't consider myself a 'writer'.  I like to share my thoughts and experiences.  It helps clear out some of the thoughts jumbled in my head but also allows me to take the time to say what I am thinking, how I perceive something and though it may not seem like it to you, it allows me to live on the edge a bit.  I get the stage for a few minutes and I have no way of knowing what the reaction will be.

Giada's Birthday was quickly approaching and so were the predictions for another 'Birthday' storm. That little reminder had me posting last year's Birthday recap on Facebook again.  I was brought right back to every moment as I read through it.  It was a million times better than the memory I already had.  Some extra details, the pictures and I was transported.  The next thought I had was that I truly missed documenting our lives.  The whole process.....taking the pictures knowing how they would be used, writing and sharing. The best part was having a way to go back and relive each story.  I can't give that up.

The threats of the storm started a week before it finally hit us.  I kept asking myself how people dealt with these things before technology.  We were given a chance to prepare to the best of our ability.  We were pretty sure the power would get knocked out so we bought some batteries and water, filled the tub up so we could flush and jacked up the heat in hopes that it would help a bit once there was none.

10/28/07.....making spinach balls

Sunday night, we had dinner at my mom and dad's house.  I made pasta with a slightly spicy sauce and spinach balls...... Exactly what we had 5 years ago...the day before Giada was born. Afterword, we had some cake and Giada opened her gifts from the family.

Birthday Celebration #1

I stayed home Monday ( the 29th....Giada's 5th Birthday)  Reports that the storm would hit that afternoon put the County in a State of Emergency for Government Offices and schools.  Giada's daycare was also closed so she and I stayed home to clean, catch up on laundry, cook some pasta and eggs so we had food if we couldn't cook.  We started to get bored so we messed around with Instagram for a bit and then enjoyed surprises that came in the mail. Kris ran some errands, hit the gym and returned just in time for the power to go out!  We ate cold ravioli ( Giada wanted ravioli last year.....cold counts, right?.... better late than never) and once we were done, there was more cake and more gifts

Instagram fun

Love from my sweet Karin and a goody-bag of samples from Target

We listened to the wind and rain whip around in the dark and lounged in the living room with the radio and flashlights.  Giada took a little snooze and when she woke up, we played Hello Kitty Bingo, Candyland and Go Fish.  Must have been Birthday Luck because she won every game.....legit.  I was bored and decided that the dark, powerless time would go faster if we just slept through it so after settling down under lots of fuzzy blankies, Giada read me a couple of her Pinkalicious books and I read her Goldilocks & the Three Dinosaurs ( we love Mo Willems)

life by flashlight

Sadly, we woke up to find that there was still no power but on a good note, there was no damage either.  Giada and I got dressed and went on a hunt for coffee. After getting some and an oatmeal for her, I started looking for info on dry ice distribution.  We didn't have power but I do have an iPhone and according to all of the posts, we were incredibly lucky.  No power?  Nothing compared to the destruction in NYC,  New Jersey and the surrounding areas.  We got the list of dry ice locations and headed out hoping to secure some. Silly me, I didn't think much of it and didn't dress appropriately.  Thankfully, G had a warm jacket because we waited in the damp, breezy weather for almost two hours.

I have never gotten dry ice before so this was a new experience. More eye-opening than anything was the range of attitudes and emotions.  Some were yelling and demanding.  Some more concerned with what 'we' were paying for the police and utility workers and then the others that were grateful for whatever they could get, no matter what the wait time was.  I was commended on Giada's behavior.  She helped with the cooler and didn't complain once.  A woman standing in front of us went to her car and got a blanket to wrap around G.   What extremes......  Its baffling to me how selfish some can be when others are so giving.

As a treat for her awesomeness, we stopped for a coffee and hot cocoa and some small cookies.  Sometimes the simplest pleasures are the greatest of treats.

We continued without power until Thursday evening but not once did any of us complain.  I am so grateful for the ability to see beyond myself .  To understand that nobody likes this situation and that everyone that can is doing whatever is in their power to make it better for everyone.  The workers removing downed trees, the utility workers restoring power, phone & cable and distributing dry ice & water, people with power offering a hot shower or a place to charge their cell.....  every    single    person.... is integral to helping us all get through this.

Thursday night, before we even knew we had power back, I stopped to see if I could buy the utility workers some coffee.....They were "fixin' to leave" but were incredibly thankful for the offer.....they didn't need to say it....you could just see it in their eyes.  As we drove away, Giada asked why we did that and I went on to explain what I just did above.  We need to appreciate each other and find time in our busy lives to slow down for a minute and let those people know......whoever they are at the time.....whatever the reason.