As Zoe wrote yesterday, we survived the wind storm and massive power outage here in the Seattle area.  I’ve experienced plenty of power outages both here and in Tennessee but nothing as widespread as what we saw this past weekend.  I didn’t know anyone who had power, and we felt very cut off from the outside world.  It was totally surreal.  We were using what little battery life we had on our cell phones to call family on the other side of the country to get updates about our own situation.  It makes you realize how much we rely on technology for everyday life – not just electricity and phone lines but also the internet and TV. (I know … master of the obvious stuff there.)  Our power came back on Sunday night, and we got our phone and internet connection back on Monday.  All is back to normal here.  There are still a lot of people in the area still without power (day 6) so I definitely don’t want to forget them.  

Situations like this bring out the best and worst in people.  Zoe and I talk a lot about “communities” and how local communities don't seem as powerful as global communities anymore.  It seems the connections we build with others – for better or worse – are with similar people across the world – but often, you don’t even know your neighbors.  That lack of local community is particularly bad out here in Seattle, with our Seattle Freeze and all.

On the day after the storm, I saw so many neighbors helping one another.  I randomly talked to strangers in the street … people who lived right down the road but to whom I’d never spoken.  The construction workers who have been slowly and loudly inconveniencing us since last spring and to whom I have said many nasty words not be repeated on this blog even helped us out.  One of our largest trees fell and blocked us in our house, and they removed it for us.  Perhaps I should call a truce.  Nah. :)

And like I said, the storm brought out the worst.  On Sunday around 11 am , we took our dogs to the Marymoor dog park, as we do several times a week.  We parked where we always park …. Right up front next to the entrance – tons of foot and car traffic.  In the park, we talked to strangers about the storm and power outage.  And then we returned to the car to find this:

The thieves also hit some other cars in the lot, and from what I’ve heard, Marymoor patrons got hit pretty hard over the weekend. I guess when the phone lines are down, cell networks are jammed, and cops are busy, it’s a good time to prey on people. Pretty sucky, and I guess I just don’t understand petty crime like this. The risk just doesn’t seem worth the reward to me, and it’s a crappy thing to kick people while they are down.  Shame on these people.

Anyway, that was my weekend. I actually handled the break-in much better than I would have anticipated I would. But when my power came back on, I was more than happy to crawl beneath the warm covers and nap for while. :)

G 

P.S.  I thought this photo was interesting.  This is a pine huge tree across Inglewood Road, a main road here in Sammamish.  It's suspended by power lines, as many trees were.  I particuarly love the sign from the Boy Scouts about Christmas Tree removal.  Think they'll pick up this one?