WyzWmn's World©

without power
the silence
and darkness
is complete

there are no sounds
from the machines in the house
the fridge doesn’t gurgle
nor does the water cooler

there is no buzz of computer
or ringing of the phone
and the clocks don’t tick
there is no “silent”
ringing in your ears

the normally lightly outlined
obstacles in the house
no longer
stand out in relief
as you walk from room to room

and what normally seemed
two steps away
now seem to be further
into the
darker
quieter
house

without power
and on a well…
there are no showers or baths
commodes don’t flush
dishes don’t get washed
laundry doesn’t get done
and there’s no electric heat
from the base boards
or your electric fireplace

it seems that
even the neighbours dogs
don’t bark

and while it’s snowing
there are no sounds from outside
no traffic on the roads
no air traffic overhead

the lack of sound and light
is deafening and blinding
it is complete

even the sounds of the weather
are noises we are not familiar with

17 hours
makes me realize
how completely
we as humans rely
on electricity
in our lives

even reading by candlelight
is a trial
there is no coffee or tea
no breakfast or lunch
no relief

it’s both awesome
and terrifying
how startling
having no power
for 17 hours
is

when I was a kid
my grandmother had these dishes
that she used daily

they were called
Belle Fiore
and they were
made by Simpsons

when I moved here
20 years ago
my life was in shambles
and I was ill prepared
to deal with anything
my Crohn’s was postal
I had no funds
no job
no life

as things
started to get better
I started purchasing
single pieces
of Belle Fiore
to mark
celebratory moments
in my life

it started with
one single
cream picture

and today we have

and much more

this year
at the behest
and urging
of my aunt Marigold
and my cousin Roberta

I have started using
this set of dishes
as my everyday
seems a waste to have them
and not use them

I have to tell you
every time I reach into the
kitchen cupboard
I am tickled

I never once have
not stopped
and grinned
like a Cheshire
remembering
my youth
and my Grandmother

which always
also brings me
to remember
my Mom and Dad
(although mom is still here
she’s got dementia…soo…)

I often giggle
and examine the dish pattern
before putting food on it

also
there’s something to be said
for longevity
in using dishes from the 1940s

and an added bonus
is that the dishes themselves
are not 12 inch corning ware plates
but 8 inch dinner ware
with a 1 inch lip
so a full plate
leaves me sated
but not stuffed

they are bright
and colourful
and make me
immensely happy

and that’s something to celebrate!