We are in North Carolina, and while we were by no means the hardest hit area in our state, we were affected by Hurricane Matthews destructive path. Our power went on a preemptive strike even before the heaviest of the rain and winds had actually arrived leaving us, and our two boys, in the dark….literally.
So how did we fill our many “unplugged” hours? We played games, actual board games with paper instructions and real 3-d playing pieces. We made pillow forts and read books by the light coming through the window. We put on rain boots and jumped in puddles on our flooded neighborhood streets. We even spent a couple of hours cleaning out our garage, one of those chores that always takes a backseat to soccer, or t-ball, or basketball, or…you get the picture. At night, we ate by candlelight and played I Spy using flashlights. When it was time to sleep, we snuggled up downstairs because a power free house at night is a little eerie.
The day reminded me of a powerful Simpsons episode where Marge is compelled to boycott “The Itchy and Scratchy Show” because of the effect its violent theme is having on her kids. Once the show changes to a more peaceful format, the kids lose interest and are no longer glued to the TV. They venture outside, rubbing their eyes as sunlight floods their dilated pupils, to play at the park, climb trees, and to ride bikes, scooters and skateboards. But when the show returns to its previous format and the kids flock back to their TV screens, we see the playgrounds of Springdale once again deserted.
So I vote we declare one Saturday of every month “Power Free Day”. We should flip the proverbial switch of our busy lives and unplug. Go old school. Will this happen? Probably not. But for one glorious day of being disconnected, we were more connected than ever.
jedimommy 