Over the
years I have become quite fond of electricity.
I’ve always had it. I guess I’m really a city girl at heart. I don’t like camping, the outdoors, heat, or
being uncomfortable. Some may call this
high-maintenance. I call it the way my
Mama raised me. Either way, when I was
recently without power at my Southside home for 5 days, this caused a
problem. A big, sweaty, grouchy problem.
After
“roughing it” for almost three days, this girl was done. Staying with friends
was not an option because most of my friends were either also without power, or
were harboring their own temporary shelters for other friends and family. I made a few calls and was able to find one
of the last remaining hotel rooms downtown. During check-in, I made friends
with a lot of other local residents who were doing the same thing I was. The
kids, who had already spent time in the hotel pool, didn’t seem to mind at
all. The lobby of 40+ people were mostly
kind and gracious. We were all in the
same boat and just wanted some relief.
Making the
best out of this situation seemed to be the only option here, but I never
thought I would enjoy it as much as I did! “Living” downtown allowed me to walk
to places like Uno’s and Rooster’s for dinner, stroll through Empire Books and
pick up some new reading material, and browse some amazing shoes at Heels. I
could walk to my favorite watering hole, Hank’s Fourth Avenue, and spend time
with friends, many of whom were also without power. I realized that while most
people were not enjoying this change in lifestyle - I was not at all unhappy about my living
situation! Having never lived downtown, I was experiencing all she had to offer
in a different way than ever before. Shopping and dining experiences aside, my
morning view over the Ohio River was an inspiring way to wake up. A view that
screamed “There are people who have situations much worse than you. Not just today, but every day. You just woke
up to this.”
Every day I
would go home and check to see if there were any signs of light. Nope.
I think I secretly wanted the power out for another few days so I could
continue my downtown vacation. It allowed me to have a freshly made bed every
day, which usually doesn’t happen at home.
It allowed me a fresh breakfast every day, which never happens at home. It
allowed me newly laundered towels daily, which is usually a toss-up at home.
Ah,
home. Maybe I am starting to miss
her. The beautiful, tree-lined brick
streets of the Southside. Where I can
walk to Ritter Park for an evening stroll (weather permitting, of course); I
can walk to Speedway for my favorite breakfast: a fountain Coke (see earlier
comment about fresh breakfast); I used to be able to walk to get yogurt, but
now I can walk to get a pedicure.
Personally, I preferred the yogurt. I can talk to my neighbors, who have
lived in the same house for 40 years, and where I have watched their
grandchildren grow up in the backyard.
I guess the
bottom line is, no matter what part of Huntington I live in, I love every inch
of her! So different, yet lovingly familiar.
As for me… I
am back home now to my un-made bed, empty refrigerator, and a bag of
laundry. And I couldn’t be happier. I may just walk down the street and get a
pedicure.
Stay cool,
Huntington!
