One of the many diatribes I have been on in the past has been the fact that we are all too busy to care for one another. I have to eat my words. There are wonderful people out there; some are right next door, some are total strangers.The last 72 hours here in my little world have proven me wrong. The Kitsap Peninsula was hit with a punch that included freezing temperatures, high winds and snow. Although the snow wasn't a lot, the other two wallops created ice rinks on every road and caused major powers outages--55,000 homes without heat and lights. I was at school on day one--the snow was starting to fall, phones were ringing off the wall, and the staff were kicking into high gear for a day of chaos. My school staff is fantastic! Many braved icy roads and cars travelling at zero mph to get to school. They greeted the children and prepared to have school. Meanwhile the office was slammed and we had everything from police and rescue crews helping a family who had been in an accident outside the school driveway to our principal spending the day on the playground to help in freezing weather while children played. The phones never stopped. The parents came in a steady stream to take their children home. One of our staff members shifted her schedule to help in the office the entire day. Oh--I forgot to mention that our receptionist/records secretary was out sick. I watched firemen and paramedics carefully help the family in the accident get to doctors and home. It was just the beginning.
As the day wore on, the school population dwindled and the snow blew in puffs as the wind churned. It didn't look good. School continued until the end of the day and our buses, although late, finally arrived. We had to load on the street due to an icy parking lot. One of our teacher's husband, an off-duty school custodian in our district, came with shovel in hand and began to work on the sidewalks so children and parents could walk without skidding and sliding. Another teacher took broom in hand and swept off the cars in the parking lot, installed chains on several cars, pushed a few out of the driveway and wore a smile the whole time while ice crystals formed on his uncovered head. Still, the phones rang.
The stories were changing. Now, parents were frantically trying to get to school to pick up the few students remaining to save them the long bus ride home. The families were stuck in traffic jams that extended for miles in every direction. Some hadn't moved an inch in two hours. Again, the staff kicked in to high gear after a very long day. Children were gathered by bus groups and escorted safely to awaiting buses. Day care children were kept for parents while teachers and staff played games, provided snacks and lots of reassurance that they would be safe until their families arrived. Oh--the teacher who wielded the broom, he gave me a ride home because my little Miata was not designed to handle the icy roads ahead. The commute is normally 12 minutes--it took one hour. Again, people were helping people. No one was impatient or rude, we were in this together.
Shortly after arriving safely at home, our power went out. There was a little scramble for the emergency stash--flashlight, kerosene lamp, candles, matches, water. Then we hauled out the blankets and assessed the canned goods. A peanut butter sandwich was dinner. The cat was fed and after donning pajamas, robe and slippers, I got under the covers to read by flashlight until closing my eyes. The cat was good company not to mention a wonderful heater.
The next morning our wonderful maintenance man was busy shoveling the walkways of our condo. No hesitation or grousing, he checked every building and took care with a smile. The downstairs neighbor had a butane stove going and made me tea and we had a wonderful neighborly chat while looking at the beautiful snow capped mountains. Then it was upstairs to check on my good friend and neighbor.
Out came the fondue pot and her gel fuel to heat water for coffee. It took awhile and I watched the pot too much, but eventually we shared the brew and told stories about other storms we had survived over the years. It was quite a site--we had so many layers of clothing on that we both resembled the Michellin Man. My toes never did warm up! As the "Tea" neighbor downstairs was leaving to help a friend, he offered his butane stove so we could cook our evening feast. No hesitation--just kind and giving. My neighbor and I spent the day in front of her fireplace, rearranged her living room furniture (another story), and later we cooked a meal of homemade soup and frittata!
As I left, with a down comforter in hand to help ward of the chill of the night ahead, I was warmed by all the memories of loving neighbors and strangers. My power came on in the early morning hours. Total strangers came from Idaho, Oregon, and Eastern Washington to help our crews throughout the freezing nights. There are many still without electrical power and stuck at home with cars abandoned on the roads, but our community spirit was active and generous. Thanks for the reminder that we are not yet too calloused and self-centered that we have forgotten how to love our neighbor. I'll keep it in mind, not just on the stormy days, but hopefully throughout the year.
