With Spring upon us, thunderstorms are a common occurrence and unfortunately, responsible for the occasional loss of power. Such was the case a few days ago, when shortly before suppertime, we lost our electricity during a heavy downpour. I thought the worst part of the pending ordeal was the fact I had a rhubarb dessert half baked in my electric oven. Wrong.
DH was upstairs taking a nap and CeCe was at softball practice. Grandma and I were sitting in the living room (in our respective chairs) where we can (all) be found nightly... watching TV ... (DH and me usually with our laptops). Only this time - there was only the two of us... no TV .... no laptop. It was still daylight, and though raining - we could see easily without the absent lighting.
We chatted for a while about the storm... previous outages, what we might do for supper if the lights didn't come back on ... the typical dialogue, in light of the circumstances (no pun intended).
After a thoughtful pause, Grandma made a comment about "what she might do next" in her life. "Next, Mom?" I said. "Just look at all you've done in your life. Don't you think you could maybe just relax for a little while?" She looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language.
The conversation segue ways to the subject of loneliness. Grandma, like many elderly people, complains of being lonesome.
Me: You were lonely in D1 too Mom. You always complained about not seeing more of us... now you see us all the time.
G: I know. I can't explain it - So many of our people are gone.
Me: Yeah, I'm sure that's hard.
G: Do you know any men?
Me: Men? What kind of men? What do you want with a man?
G: Oh... just someone to talk to. I don't think I want to date or go out, but maybe I would.
Me: (silence)
G: So, do you know any?
Me: Uh... No.
DH and I have enough to deal with, supervising CeCe's social life - I don't think we have it in us to screen would be suitors for Grandma also. I change the subject.
Me: Have you talked to any of your friends lately?
G: Aunt Helen called.
Me: She did?!?
G: Yes, I was so surprised to hear from her. We haven't talked in a long time... you know, I actually thought she was gone...
Me: Like, when did she call?
G: A couple days ago. I can't remember where she said she's living but she thanked me for the Christmas card I sent her.
I got nuthin' and so said as much.
G: She said she had heard I was living with you but had trouble finding the number. It was so nice to talk to her. She said she wanted to be sure to keep in touch with me and I said I'd send her a card again at Christmas.
Me: Did you happen to get her phone number?
G: No, I don't think so.
Me: Well I sent your Christmas cards out last year, and we didn't send one to Aunt Helen, because you were right... she did pass away, five years ago.
G: She did? ....... Well who do you think called me?
Me: I don't know. Maybe you were dreaming.
G: Do you have any way we can verify that she really died?
Me: Hmmm, well I sang at the funeral and I think you have a news clipping in a container under your bed.
The power has been off close to an hour now. I have about reached my limit. I excuse myself and go upstairs to "wake" DH. (Was he sleeping all that time or avoiding captivity in the living room?)
Me: DH, you have to come downstairs.
DH: Why?
Me: I'm going to lose it... she says Aunt Helen called her.
DH: Oh joy.... (getting up) OK.
We rejoin Grandma in the living room where she tells DH the TV won't work.
DH: That's because the electricity is off.
G: Well this still works (holding her remote control). See? (pressing a button) ... the light comes on but the TV won't.
DH: There's a battery in the remote control that is making the light come on.
G: I didn't know that.
We talk a bit and then I spot the local newspaper. There have been a series of articles about a 50 year old, unsolved murder in our hometown. I ask Mom if she remembers it. "No," she replies. I remember growing up hearing and reading accounts of the murder, so find the latest "Cold Case" series fascinating. I move to the chair next to Grandma, where the dwindling daylight allows me to read (aloud) the articles in this week's edition. She leans forward in her chair, listening to every word, occasionally commenting on something that stirs a memory.
A few minutes after I finish reading, CeCe arrives home and (hallelujah) the lights come back on. DH makes toast and eggs for supper. Grandma must have tired from all the visiting and decides to retire early. I turn my efforts to salvaging my half baked rhubarb dessert. Compared to the rest of the evening - it really wasn't that bad.
So ends Episode 27.
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