Some of Steve's co-workers spent last night in their power-less homes and at work this morning, they reported difficulty sleeping because they were "sweating throughout the night." We also had reports, in New Orleans, of problems with sewage backup. The city is urging citizens to conserve water. Hearing this, I can only imagine how uncomfortable it is for some people to be back in New Orleans, but at the same time, I can also imagine how good it feels to be back in their own homes.
As I was running along bike path on the beach this morning, thinking about people returning to homes without electricity, several thoughts struck me. While growing up on the reservation in Arizona, I can recall our community experiencing the loss of power several times a year. The restoration of power would usually take a day or two, but because we lived in a rural area, there were many times when we went without electricity for weeks. Once or twice a year, we would also lose water; the community's reservoirs having run dry. This would force us to make runs to a well a mile from the house, once or twice a week, to replenish our supply. In that sense, life as a kid during those times of doing without power and water, was no different than life in New Orleans, for some people, at this very moment. (This is not to discount the families on the reservation who continue to live without electricity and who still have to haul water, for daily use, from distant sources.) Plus, I miss our home in New Orleans. So, in theory, I could return to the city right now and "tough it out." Realizing that I have a choice, however, I think the dogs and I will continue our stay at the condo, living in comfort, for another day. I'll review our situation tomorrow.
