In Between Storms

In Between Storms

There’s another one coming

I can feel it

Not so much in my bones

as in the thousand little

fever pinpricks

of the cold I’m trying to get over.

I’m weary from lack of sleep

And a little delirious from a variety

Of over the counter cold medications

As well as the events of the past few days

Days off – vacation days.

Days spent mostly sick

And doing much harder work than I ever do

When actually working.

Out in the wind and the cold and the rain

Clearing drains, caulking gaps, stopping leaks,

Pulling blown over road signs out of the road,

Hauling firewood, cooking and cleaning

And feeding 60 or more people for two days.

All the while, the storm was blowing

Knocked out power up and down the state.

But for the most part, the lights stayed on at our house.

Thank God for that.

Because the storm undid all of my hard work

Of securing the tarp over our woodpile.

Left the tarp in tatters

And the wood soaked through and through.

But for once, the grasshopper had the last laugh.

Because we’ve been a little lazy

As well as very busy,

We never finished moving the whole half cord

And the rest of the pile was still dry

Under the tarp

Where it was dumped a couple of weeks ago.

I saw Mars Friday night, clear as day

while sweating out a 101 degree fever

in a 102 degree hot tub

until the lightning came

and brought me to my senses

and back inside.

And I’m thinking of how lucky

I get sometimes.

I do work hard.

And the harder I work, the luckier I get.

But there are times like tonight

When I feel like my luck’s going to run out.

For some reason I am dreading tomorrow

And the next few days

I have a lot of work to do,

But that’s fairly normal.

Especially after the holidays

And then being off for a few days.

And I know I can and will get done what needs doing

By the time it needs to be done.

And my wife and son will be going to San Francisco tomorrow

And that always makes me worry.

But the weather is supposed to be better tomorrow.

And we have a safe vehicle.

And Rachel is a careful driver.

And statistically speaking,

She should not have another accident

For a very long time, if ever.

And I just got paid

And my bills are all paid

And there are more checks on the way.

And money is often the thing

That makes me feel this way.

But not today.

So what is it?

I keep thinking of what it must be like for Ted

Out there on the Coast

With no power for three days now

Huddled around a fire

Burning candles

Reading

Maybe playing some music

Waiting for the lights to come on.

Knowing it could be another day or two

Or three or more.

I wonder if he’s scared.

I know I would be.

In fact, I’m a little scared right now

Just imagining myself in his place.

But then maybe it’s just perfect for him-

Nothing to do but be.

He’s good at that.

Better than me, anyway.

Maybe I’m worried about the next storm.

This last one did some damage.

And the next one will be here in a day or two

I see it there off the coast.

I keep checking the satellite maps

And jet stream forecasts.

It might even snow.

But I doubt it.

And just now I wondered to myself,

“What would I do if the power went off right now?”

I guess I would hope that Word’s auto-recover feature

Would save what I’ve done so far.

[CTRL-S just to be safe]

And I would sit calmly for a minute

To let my eyes adjust to the sudden darkness.

And I would follow the hallway to the firelight

And grab a lighter from near the fireplace

And find my way upstairs

To where I think the flashlight is.

Under the kitchen sink

And then I would find Rachel.

And I would find her sleeping, probably.

Which is probably what I need most of all.

A good night’s sleep next to my wife.

And maybe it will all be better in the morning.