| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ninibini |
Posted - May 14 2011 : 11:18:54 PM
What a weekend! Friday afternoon, the transformer on the pole in front of my next door neighbor's house was blown by lightning... Tonight we were about to head up to bed and we heard a huge >BANG< and the power went out - the same transformer was hit a second time. Thankfully, we have plenty of candles on hand!
At first, our son entertained us with jokes for a little while. Then my husband turned on his huge emergency flashlight, enabling me to start reading "Huckleberry Finn" out loud - voices and all. It was a book on this school year's reading list that we just hadn't been able to get to reading. Not surprisingly, within minutes my husband was snoring, fast asleep in his chair. I was absolutely amazed, though, when my son put down his iPod, reclined on the sofa and listened intently - just like when he was little. So funny... Even though he's a teenager, I think it's so neat how something magical still happens when I read to him (just don't tell his friends - or he'd be mortified! LOL!).
About five chapters in (which included a good bit of laughter intermingled with shocked gasps and brief discussions over some of the words Twain used), the lights came back on. I heard an "awwwww," then he picked up the iPod and I lost him again. It was so nice while it lasted though. He did say he's going to read the book this week, because he found it "very interesting." 'Guess we'll be having some pretty interesting conversations at the dinner table this week! ;)
Thank youuuu lightning! You really DID strike twice! MORE than twice! Not only did you burn out the transformer both times, you also rekindled a precious memory in the hearts of mother and son, causing it to once again, for a brief, wonderful moment, burn warm and bright!
Whodathunk losing power on a Saturday night could turn out to be such a blessing? Not sure I'm keen on the idea of a third strike, though...
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
www.papercraftingwithnini.myctmh.com |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| CMac |
Posted - May 23 2011 : 08:12:45 AM
Brought back memories for me too. I read to my sons till the youngest was 13 or so. Just this weekend he asked me when his daughter would be old enough for him to start reading The Box Car Children to her. It warmed my heart to know how much he valued that time in our lives. We talked about My Side of the Mountain, The Indian in the Cupboard, A Wrinkle in Time, A Girl of the Limberlost, and all the children's stories from around the world I had collected for them.
I wonder if we were having this conversation while you were reading to your son. Just checked your post. It was a week later. Some things seem to be universal!
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| Brandy Patricia |
Posted - May 23 2011 : 07:52:54 AM
I just had to say that this post brought back some good memories for me. Growing up I lived way out of town on the family farm and we often had power outages, especially with the Florida summer thunderstorms and hurricanes. (Before last year the power infrastructure coming out to the farm hadn't been changed since the 1950's).
Anyway, the whole family gathered in the livingroom, no matter the time of day, although usually in the afternoon when the thunderstorms rolled in. Mom would have to cease vaccuuming, Dad remained unmoved from his big chair in the living room, no longer watching television, and my siblings and I would loudly proclaim from our bedrooms, most of the time in unison, The Power's Out!! My little brother put down his video game controller, and my sister and I would quit what we were doing to sit in the living room and complain that it's going to get hot without the A/C. But, I wouldn't trade what then seemed an inconveniant afternoon for the memories of us all laughing at eachother immitating what we would be watching on tv if the power was on. My little sister made a really funny weatherwoman! If it was dark, we all sat on the big couch and made hand shapes on the ceiling with the flashlight.
Now my siblings and I are all grown up, no kids for us yet, but I hope that my children some day will enjoy sitting in the living room with our family, listening to the thunder and rain, trying to time the exactly when the power is going to come back on (but secretly hoping it doesn't come back on just yet) just like I did when I was a kid.
Thanks for the wonderful post, Nini
--Brandy Patricia |
| Ninibini |
Posted - May 15 2011 : 08:15:36 AM
Amen, Marian! Amen, Annika! That was my same thought last night: how wonderfully peaceful and heartwarming our forced together-time was! I really, really wish we did that more often, to be honest. I love the summer nights for that exact reason! You'll often find us on the deck by the pool with lit candles and tiki lamps, passing the snacks, pouring lots of iced water and lemonade, while laughing and just shooting the breeze over cards or a board game. There's always room for a neighbor or unexpected visitor to pull up a chair and join in. And there's nothing like a mid-night swim to relax you before bedtime! The kids just love the whole experience, too. It just tickles my heart to hear them about those fun summer nights on cold winter evenings! :)
You're right Diane - they do grow up so fast. TOO fast. Hopefully memories like this will keep them coming back for more for many years to come!
Hugs - Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
www.papercraftingwithnini.myctmh.com
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| Annika |
Posted - May 15 2011 : 08:05:02 AM
While lightning strikes are pretty scary, I think it would do us all good to turn off the lights and share some close family time around the candle light! I'm so happy that you and your son were able to re-kindle that special story telling time!
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. ~Leonardo DaVinci
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| Fiddlehead Farm |
Posted - May 15 2011 : 06:21:45 AM
Aw, what a nice story. They grow up so fast.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
Happy to be a "Raggedy Ann" in a Barbie World!
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
| dutchy |
Posted - May 15 2011 : 03:18:59 AM
SEE?? It can be good to have no power...sometimes  Good you had such a lovely time reading to/with your son Nini, something to cherish I'm sure 
Hugs....
Hugs from Marian/Dutchy, a farmgirl from the Netherlands :)
http://pinkprincessdecorating.blogspot.com/
Almost daily updates on me, my home and my crafts
Farmgirl sister # 2410 |
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