Around 3 pm I got up from my computer to take a quick break from editing and think about a little mid afternoon snack. Moseyed out into the kitchen to open all the drawers in the pantry and stand in front of the fridge for a while, just to close it and walk away with no snack. As I walked away I thought it was very odd that the light in the refrigerator had been off but naturally assumed it was Brett’s fault. Walked into our room to find my computer along with every piece of electronic equipment void of power. Thanks to Facebook and Twitter we quickly found out that everyone in San Diego was without power.
The greatest thing about the power outage was that in the afternoon families were out in the front yard together. Neighbors were hanging out and chatting, Families were out on bike rides. Brett was out front working on our new scooters when the power went out and a few neighbors came by, brought beer, and offered to help. Normally it would have just been us out there alone! There was a great feel of camaraderie in the community. Folks were walking to the homes of the elderly to see if they needed anything, and the mood was generally great. Once night fell we cooked an amazing dinner via hand lit gas stove and outdoor BBQ, eating things that would have perished in the fridge. Cheese and crackers for appetizers, with sides of fruit. Then began dinner, a lone New York strip and Rib eye that we had been seasoning in the fridge for a later date. No time like the present I suppose. Sides consisted of our favorite five grain mix from Trader Joes, Asparagus that would have gone bad and green beans sautéed with Shallots, a little butter and some agave nectar. All by candlelight and headlamps. Once we finished our feast with friends, Brett took off into the night with a camera and tripod in hand. First stop was Kate Sessions park. There he found droves of people laying in the grass on blankets, motorhomes with generators buzzing as people lounged and watched for the lights to come back on. However, because of the dew it was not ideal for pictures so he moved on to downtown to see the city in the dark under an almost full moon. Taking a few shots there he continued on to Coronado Island to catch a view from the other side. It was a magnificent sight and one not soon to be forgotten. Once safely home Brett reflected on the evenings events and came to the conclusion we should plan one of these once a month just to get people out of their houses and away from their tv’s. There is a whole missed community in California and its time to get to know your neighbors again.
