Wednesday, September 05, 2012

The Purpose-Driven Blog

Just now I opened my email, and there was a note from an educator, wanting to post something about guidance counselors on my blog.

Egads! Am I drifting off topic, or what?

This blog is for Holy Higher-Ups who don't get a podium at national political conventions! It's for the gods who got sent packing by "In God We Trust." Pagan, Neo-Pagan, Animist, Psychic, Nature, even the Flying Spaghetti Monster and Elvis! Enough about teaching, already! Dull topic, unless you're Socrates. Or Henry Higgins.

COMPLETE POWER FAILURE

Last night we had severe weather in the area, remnants of Hurricane Isaac. The storms and heavy rain rumbled through all day and into the evening.

It wasn't even raining outside, but all of a sudden our whole neighborhood lost power. My over-lit, over-air conditioned house was plunged into blackness. (I admit I could do a better job of energy conservation. I am working on it.)

When I say black, I mean nearly total, blinding black. I was standing in the kitchen, and ... blip! Dark.

My daughter The Spare teases me about the way I buy candles. Send me into a store, and if you want to find me, look for the candles. I get most of my candles at the thrift store, but never mind the source of purchase: I buy and burn a lot of candles.

Therefore, in the total darkness of an electricity-free kitchen, I was able to grope my way to the matches and to a pair of tapers in about 30 seconds. Less than a minute later, the shrine candle came into use. And if I had been diligent in my praise and worship of Queen Brighid the Bright, there never would have been darkness to begin with! Her altar was between candles, and I forgot to light a new one.

Public service reminder to followers of the bored gods: Keep your altar candles up to date. Don't burn them where you can't see them, but do kindle that fire. One of these days, all the fancy power plants might be rendered useless, and in that case you will like having fire at your fingertips.

Speaking of fingertips, my Decibel is still having trouble with her wing. She has adapted to the bird collar, but she's not as sassy as usual, by far. I may need to give her a whole new name. How do you like "Crackers?"

7 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Do they make prozac for parrots? I bet she's missing the 2 girls and you, since you're at work outside the home now. There have been big changes in her life.

The Spare said...

I think crackers is a dumb name. Why is that even an option? :)

ernährungsplan said...

very good comment

Chas S. Clifton said...

You blog about teaching, and they find you. I get a lot of such "free content offers" for "Southern Rockies Nature Blog," but oddly enough, none for "Letter from Hardscrabble Creek" . . . yet.

Lucretia said...

I'm also an obsessive candle collecter, and we do pretty well also when the lights go out. Buy 'em and burn 'em, that's my motto! If asked, my deities prefer the scented kind, but they're willing to take anything I can get.

Anonymous said...

My bathroom has no window. I keep a candle in the corner of the counter, so I can feel my way to that corner in the dark. Last time we lost power, I burned down my last three candle stubs. Shortly after, I was walking and saw an estate sale, went in, and found a box of candles (pink, but who cares). Turned out she sold them to me for about 25 cents. Hooray.

yellowdoggranny said...

I'm the same way with candles..and they say not to use them when you use power because of fires..but I'd rather read by candle light than flash light.