WOW! What a way to hit the winter months running! An ice storm? Snow? More on the way? I hate to be like so many you hear that say ‘we should learn from this,’ but I think I have learned something… I’ve learned to be thankful for the little things in life… like ELECTRICITY! 
In my career as a meteorologist, I’ve visited many towns that have been struggling through some sort of weather disaster. I’ve seen ice, snow, tornadoes, hurricanes, drought and floods. However, up until now, I’ve been fortunate enough to not live in an area hit hard by any of these weather phenomenon. Not this time. Like everyone else, I found myself without power and cold!
For five days, I worked 12 hour shifts only to come home to a cold apartment. I, along with my poor cat, Chloe, buried myself under mounds of blankets and quilts. My late grandmother is no doubt, smiling down at me, knowing that every quilt she ever made me was being used for the purpose it was created. And, like so many others, I ran around the house like a crazy woman turning on all my lights once the power returned! As they say, I was like a kid in a candy store!
Of course, I think it will be a long while before I take my electricity for granted, but that’s not what really got to me this last week… at least not as much as one other thing: The outpouring of support and help from people out of state!
I have seen this happen on many occasions, during my visits to hard-hit communities, and I have been known to donate to relief funds myself. My donations always made me smile, knowing I was helping, but I don’t think anything has warmed my heart so much as to be on the receiving end.
The crew that fixed the power at my apartment was from Ohio. They came all this way to help us. They are living in a make-shift dormatory at the fairgrounds, away from their homes and their families to help us! How cool is that!?
It’s nice to see happening what I’ve always believed: Good really can come out of the bad.
Nollaig Shona!
Merry Christmas!
Katie
David Barnes said
I agree with you Katie, I live in Bartlesville and work at 81st and Lewis, yeah its a long drive but I haven’t seen a bridge yet I want my family living under. Anyway, on the drive to work I would see all the line crews from all over the place working to restore the heat. Even though it was the Christmas season, they were away from their family’s to help us out. That was probably the best Christmas present I received this year. Not so much the electricity but care shown by other’s. From the line crews to the people everywhere who pulled together in the true spirit of the season.
David