Power Outage - A Romantic Morning

Power Outage - A Romantic Morning

Darkness can be romantic. This morning when we woke up it was spooky; the city of Amsterdam was without electricity, no streetlights, no traffic lights, no lights glowing in the shop windows. As the kids excitedly ran around the house lighting candles, I was somehow happy to be without power. 

We ate breakfast by candlelight, and I told them of a snowstorm and power outage that lasted for two days when I was a child. Our School was canceled for the two days, and we had to keep warm by the wood stove. I remember the eleven of us sleeping in one room to keep warm, laughing and teasing that we were the Waltons, "Good night John Boy"  was called out as we giggled and went to sleep. My Dad even made eggs for us to eat on that woodstove. I thought I had the coolest Dad ever and knew at the moment we could survive a disaster with such a Dad. He told us about his childhood and we listened enjoying the stories and games.

Those two days spent with my siblings were like being transported back in time. This morning after breakfast we all piled back into my bed. I was thinking about my Dads stories and this time it was my turn to tell stories in my bedroom lit solely by candlelight. The kids were praying that this power outage would last and that school would be canceled. Sadly for all of us, the lights went back on. Well, I guess it is a good thing that they are back on because I don't have a fireplace or a woodstove here but nevertheless it was nice morning and brought back many memories of my happy childhood. Turn a negative situation into a positive one and enjoy the moment. I know I had a lovely morning and I am missing the darkness, my husband and kids. They have made it safely to work and school.

—Allison Ochs Social Worker M.S.W. , Coach, Expat, Mother of three, Wife