It was very strange and sudden since there was no storm to cause it. We think it may be due to some road construction a few miles away. Steve and I had left around 5:45 to go pick up some chicken for our Coconut Curry Chicken, and when we returned around 6 the power was gone.
Not a big deal, just very sad we couldn't make dinner! We all know how much we love food!
We had to settle for some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They filled the empty spaces to say the least...
After our gourmet meal, we decided to take a walk to explore Target since they apparently had some back up generators. The store was dark, only dimly lit by the scattered emergency lights. All the electronics were off, there was no music or sounds to be heard other than the occasional walkie talkie feedback. The food was covered with tarps and the refrigerated sections were just begging not to be opened. It was fun, in an erie sort of way. We felt like we were either breaking the law by being there, or perhaps we were suppose to be stocking shelves. Either way, it was far from normal.
I found it interesting though, that in situations such as this simple power outage, people seemed to open up and behave in ways that, for our culture, are completely out of the norm. Just like any catastrophe whether it be a tornado, terrorism or something as petty as a power outage, people all of a sudden discover a common bond with others. As if being human is not enough to make people want to engage with one another, there is something about 'traumatic' situations that make people eager to be vulnerable.
As we walked through Target we were casually approached by multiple Target employees, not just so they could generically ask if we needed help finding something, but to engage in conversation and talk about what was going on. It was like a door had been opened and a weight was taken away allowing them to finally let go of all the pent up social energy that needed to be released.
In a neighborhood, in a state, in a country that is so self centered, where people stay in their own safe bubble, why is it that all it takes is something bad/out of the norm to make people realize that maybe we do have something in common and maybe engaging with other people is an ok thing to do?
It's just a thought. I know I am guilty for living in my own world sometimes too. But what if just once a day, or even once a week, we decided to pop our bubble? I'm not even sure what that means or what that would look like. But what if?
Anyway. It's Friday now. And we finally got to make our Coconut Chicken Curry. Yum.
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