Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
What a way to start 2008! Things have to improve during the year, after this bummer.
On Thursday, January 3, 2008, it was raining and windy. Nothing unusual for a winter day. But the weather forecast was for more of the same - only of more intensity. About 4 p.m., the kitchen light flickered and dimmed. The low voltage continued another 40 minutes, and then they went out, and we sat in a darkened room
I called PG&E to report our power outage. While I was sure that neighbors had also reported it, I called them anyway. What if no one had called them, because they assumed that someone else had? I am sure that it wasn’t news to the power-grid operator manning the control panel. The PG&E operator told me that our power outage had been reported, and the repair crew was working on it. They estimated that it would be repaired by 12:30 a.m. Friday.
Fortunately, our daughter, Joan, was visiting us at the time of the “dimming of the lights.” She said that we couldn’t stay there without heat, especially since Marie wasn’t feeling well, and invited us to spend the night with her and Manny. We weren’t too keen on imposing on them, but this was an offer that we couldn’t refuse. Joan called Manny at work, and asked him if he would pick us up after he got off work and bring us up with him. He agreed to do so.
So, we scurried around with the flashlight and packed lightly - so lightly that we forgot our toothbrushes. People should practice this packing routine, so that it would not seem so strange in an emergency. It isn’t easy packing in the dark - even for one day. It was great to see Manny. His presence had a calming effect, and a confidence builder that everything would be o.k. Manny helped us finish packing, I turned down the thermostat, locked up, and the three of us were off to Fairfield in the wind and rain. There was a lot of traffic on I-80, but the commuters were driving slower and smarter.
It was reassuring to see Joan once again, and enter their warm and inviting home. Elmo, their cat was there to greet us and check us out, too. He was probably wondering who these strangers were that were intruding in his territory.
Joan had prepared a nice dinner. Afterwards, we watched some television, and then retired to the separate rooms that she had prepared for us. We shared the bathroom. I would say that she gave us very good service for last minute company. Who could ask for more? Just to be warm, dry and safe was a big plus. It is interesting the things that we take for granted, and we don’t appreciate having them until we are deprived of them.
Friday morning, Joan served us a delicious hot oat meal breakfast. A god hearty start for the day which we didn’t know what it would bring. Starting about noon, I called Annie, our next door neighbor, to see if the power had been restored. Shortly after noon - after a morning call or two - I was relieved when she said that the power had come on and had stayed on. So, a little later, on Friday afternoon, January 4, 2008, Joan brought us back home. It was nice to get home even after receiving hospitality above and beyond the call. The first thing that I did - after boosting the thermostat - was to check the frozen food in our freezer. Fortunately, it was still frozen.
I went to bed that night with a very warm feeling - a heart full of love - for Joan and Manny - for helping us in our hour of need. It was very comforting and rewarding, to realize that we had such a thoughtful family. We really appreciated their concern for us.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Dad's Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD.
My Dad, Raymond Marks L’Amoreaux, was born in Hillsdale, Michigan, 118 years ago today! Happy Birthday Dad! He was born at home, on a Thursday, January 23, 1890 - the seventh of nine siblings. I wonder what else happened of importance on that day?
He spent his whole career working for the New York Central Railroad. He liked sports - and was a good sport. He had a sense of humor which I enjoyed. He was a pleasure to be around. He was a good bowler. He was a good musician - plating both the violin and the e-flat horn - (a sound similar to the French horn). He liked to garden. In Hillsdale, he had a large garden and raised many different kinds of vegetables.
He died on December 21, 1963 in Ann Arbor, - a month after President John Kennedy was assassinated. He was only 73 - young by today’s death statistics. The following Christmas was the saddest of my life. He was always very supportive of me. I know that he was proud of me, and loved me, even though I never heard him speak these words.