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After a recent storm, I
found out what living without modern conveniences was like.I had almost
forgotten how smothering hot summer could be, and what it was like not to
have air- conditioning. But during the week we spent without it, I started
remembering sleepless hot nights with widows open and sheets wet with
perspiration.
In what some would
consider "the olden days," our beds used to be positioned close to windows,
in hopes of catching breezes that might happen to materialize, on hot July
or August nights.
After Bill and I had
children, and they grew a little older, they used to beg to sleep out under
the stars in tents fashioned from sheets. I didn't sleep well those nights.
Yet, there wasn't the fear
there is today in allowing children such privileges.
In those early days fans
became necessities. If you had an osculating fan you were doubly blessed.
Then window fans became
popular. What a blessing it was if you had one. They always provided a
refreshing breeze to sleep under. You had to pull the curtains back and away
from the window, though,
so they wouldn't get sucked into the fan blades and get shredded to pieces.
Then later there was the
attic fan that worked much the same way as the window fan. It was located in
the ceiling and had shutters that opened when it was turned on. I loved
the comfort it brought on
those hot sultry nights; covers often had to be pulled up before morning
rolled around. There are times I wish we still had one.
But, all those cooling
solutions were before humanity found themselves behind closed and locked
windows and doors. That was before people forgot how to love their
neighbors. That was during the time people asked their neighbor if they
could borrow a cup of sugar or flour, not murder them for sometimes less
than the price of those ingredients.
During our recent week
long power outage, I was privileged to have my brother bring over and hook
up a generator for us. He knows how people with multiple sclerosis can react
to hot temperatures.
I was thankful the little
boy who once threw my baby kitten in the washing machine had matured into a
caring senior citizen! His helpfulness provided the machine that powered
fans allowing me to stay home during that week - we'll all never forget!
Yes, those few days got me
thinking back to all the different ways we used to try to stay cool, and the
fans we used before air conditioners. I remember those fans with their hums,
whines and buzzing; those were comforting sleep inducing sounds.
I know we have ceiling
fans these days, but they only help to circulate the air from the air
conditioning. We don't usually depend on them alone during the hottest days
of summer.
With all we were without
recently, we still had water – what a blessing! I was thankful, too, we had
previously decided on gas for our hot-water-heater! A cold shower is not
something I enjoy, even in hot weather.
I sure, though, missed my
electric stove and microwave during our recent ordeal. I wouldn't want to go
back to times women cooked outside or over hearths or on wood-burning cook
stoves, but maybe I should rethink a gas stove.
We were blessed to have
use of our refrigerator, with the generator, but I know many did not, and
they used coolers. How could we ever go back to the days of the old ice-box!
I found myself flipping
the light switches that week, and then remembering we had no electricity. I
sure wouldn't want to go back before Thomas Edison!
Even with a generator
there were not enough cords to provide all the light we were accustomed to,
so out came candles and flash lights from their hiding places.
How did people manage
before they had all the amenities we enjoy today – well they did; we could
again if we had to, but who of us would want to?
I will admit, it wasn't
easy, I found myself riding around in the dark on my scooter using my head
light to see where I was going.
That brings me to one of
the most important modern conveniences I personal would find it very
difficult to do without - my motorized scooter. Without it I would more than
likely be confined to my bed or chair and have to have a helper while my
husband works. Modern conveniences allow many like me to retain our
independence.
Had it not been for the
generator, after the recent storm, I would have been without the ability to
recharge my scooter, as I need to every night. I guess that means I better
forgive
my brother for the "kitten
incident!"
Well, needless to say, I
decided during that recent week, I sure don't want to go back to the "Good
Old Days!" How about you? Have any of you had an experience, similar to
mine, when you came to truly appreciate the blessings of modern convinces?
© 2006
Betty King
Email
Betty at baking2@charter.net
Visit her website at
www.bettyking.net
Betty
King is an author of three books, her latest, The Fragrance of Life. She is
a freelance writer, a Life Style and Devotional newspaper columnist and a
frequent contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul
book
series and other anthology books. You can read excerpts from all three of
her books on her website
www.bettyking.net .
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Your
editor, here at Moments of Reflections
Betty King - baking2@charter.net
Visit my website
www.BettyKing.net |
