So why is it that no matter how much planning you do, the impromptu events always seem to come off better? Here's a case in point....
Early Sunday evening a heck of a thunder storm rolled down our street. The sky got black, the wind started to whip, and we could hear thunder rolling closer and closer to us. There even was a tornado warning in the area, so this was going to be one heck of a storm. Suddenly a clap of thunder and a flash of lighting went off that seemed to be right over the house and then the rains came. It started pouring and shortly thereafter the lights went off. Not a big deal as it was still early and in spite of the rotten weather still light out. Only problem was there was a pot of this really nice cheese dip that the kids had been making cooling on the stove....the ELECTRIC stove! So as the rains diminish, we see our neighbor Georgia across the street get into her car. She returned about 20 minutes later with "Blackout Pizza" for us and a couple of other neighbors and the cheese dip problem went away...temporarily!
As often happens with a fast moving storm like this, in a short time it had moved on. The rain stopped, the sky cleared, and the evening sun came back out. Before long the street came back to life and as there still was no electricity, no one was glued to the TV. Our neighbor Doc next door came out to take his dogs for a walk and when he came home we went down to talk to him. Georgia came over from across the street and we thanked her for the pizza. She said that she figured everyone was in the same boat regarding dinner and when she found the pizza place with lights, she thought it was a good idea. I told her about the kids' cheese dip and about our daughter Krissi's plan to submerse it in hot water to heat it up. She said to have Krissi bring it across the street as she has a gas stove! Suddenly a plan was hatched out of nowhere!
As the cheese dip was heating, chips were being put in a bowl, cheese was being cut and other odds and ends were being gathered. Next thing we knew there was a street party commencing on the sidewalk. Plastic tables were grabbed, candles and lanterns appeared as did 6 packs of beer, bottles of wine and drinks of other varieties. As the sun set and night took over our street, a group of 20 plus neighbors gathered to celebrate the lack of electricity by candle light! Was it kismet that there was also a full moon that night throwing some more atmosphere and light on our festivities? Who knows, but as the evening went on more and more folks joined us and our shared blackout experience!
About 9:30 the lights came back on and a cheer went up from the crowd. Everyone was thankful that on another hot summer night there would be air conditioning to sleep with. It was good that the electric was back but it was also sad because I knew that what had started from nothing would soon be over...and I was correct. Within about 5 minutes the group had broken up as people gathered there collective stuff and moved back into their houses. Back to the comfort of air conditioning, the routine of TV, and the Sunday night preparations for yet another week about to start. Before we knew it, there was just an empty sidewalk with no evidence that a party had happened. An impromptu event, born out of a thunder storm and the local utility's inability to keep the lights on.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Beach Etiquette
OK, here's a question for you....why is it that people love to enter your personal space...like at the beach??
So we're sitting on the beach in Ocean City, NJ early one morning recently. The lifeguards are not set up yet and there are only a few folks scattered about the beach. The tide is on it's way out, so the beach will just be getting bigger as the day goes on. As time passes we watch the lifeguards come to the beach. They drop their gear, drag the lifeguard stand to the water's edge, and position the boat close by it. As it gets later more and more people start showing up, but the beach is still by no means full or even getting full.
Suddenly we're broken out of our reading or dozing by the sound of commotion and look up (or wake up) and discover that a large group of folks with several kids has decided to take up residence for the day 5 feet to our left! Now, when the next closest person is at least 20 feet away from us, why does this family group decide to plop right next to us???
Are they the same folks who fill their plates to overflowing at the all you can eat buffet even though you can go back as many times as you want? Are they the bozos who stop smack dab in the middle of the grocery store aisle and then walk 10 feet further to read the label of a product they ultimately won't buy? Is there a group of people who's task in life is to annoy the rest of us...and are they on their summer vacation in Ocean City?
No sooner are the adults unfolding chairs and opening umbrellas then the kids start digging and throwing sand close to 20 feet in all directions! Do the parents say anything? Do they even notice?? Of course not! Why is it these people always seem to find us? Be it the screaming kid at the beach, the baby who disrupts everyone's dinner in the the restaurant, or the loud overbearing person who always gets waited on before you just because he's such a pain, they seem to be more and more a part of our life.
Come on folks...how bout we all work together?? Lets try to remember the Golden Rule (you do remember hearing that, right? Do unto others, etc) and realize that your actions in this world impact many others. How about we all look around before we act and try to give a damn about someone other than ourselves. I know...dream on, right? Well, I can ask, no?
So we're sitting on the beach in Ocean City, NJ early one morning recently. The lifeguards are not set up yet and there are only a few folks scattered about the beach. The tide is on it's way out, so the beach will just be getting bigger as the day goes on. As time passes we watch the lifeguards come to the beach. They drop their gear, drag the lifeguard stand to the water's edge, and position the boat close by it. As it gets later more and more people start showing up, but the beach is still by no means full or even getting full.
Suddenly we're broken out of our reading or dozing by the sound of commotion and look up (or wake up) and discover that a large group of folks with several kids has decided to take up residence for the day 5 feet to our left! Now, when the next closest person is at least 20 feet away from us, why does this family group decide to plop right next to us???
Are they the same folks who fill their plates to overflowing at the all you can eat buffet even though you can go back as many times as you want? Are they the bozos who stop smack dab in the middle of the grocery store aisle and then walk 10 feet further to read the label of a product they ultimately won't buy? Is there a group of people who's task in life is to annoy the rest of us...and are they on their summer vacation in Ocean City?
No sooner are the adults unfolding chairs and opening umbrellas then the kids start digging and throwing sand close to 20 feet in all directions! Do the parents say anything? Do they even notice?? Of course not! Why is it these people always seem to find us? Be it the screaming kid at the beach, the baby who disrupts everyone's dinner in the the restaurant, or the loud overbearing person who always gets waited on before you just because he's such a pain, they seem to be more and more a part of our life.
Come on folks...how bout we all work together?? Lets try to remember the Golden Rule (you do remember hearing that, right? Do unto others, etc) and realize that your actions in this world impact many others. How about we all look around before we act and try to give a damn about someone other than ourselves. I know...dream on, right? Well, I can ask, no?
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