Lightening Storms and Candle Light

It’s rare that the power goes out in our neck of the woods. We may get the electricity flicker here and there, but a full-on power outage? Never in this house. Until last nights amazing show of lightening and booming thunder! Right in the middle of a movie, didn’t even know that it was raining outside, the lights flick on and off, then a huge BOOM! Jason and I rush to the window and lo-and-behold, rain is coming down in sheets outside! Tree branches are breaking, patio furniture is being flung all over the neighborhood and the sky is filled with the most amazing display of lightening I have ever scene!



Growing up in the mid-west, the Chicagoland area to be specific, I’m no stranger to a good storm. Heck, my dad was even an unofficial storm chaser when I was a young one. But this, this was awesome!



















But, now that I’m completely dependent on television or radio to play in the background of my life at all times, what do I do without either? No internet, no cable, no batteries in the house to even run a CD player with. We had to resort to candles to even light up a room.



My first lesson of the evening was learned early. I love watching a thunderstorm. To waste a little time, hoping that the electricity would miraculously pop back on, Jason and I decide to turn to our little vice and go out for a smoke. I’m dressed in pj’s which means a skanky white beater and some short shorts that don’t fit quite right. Out the door and Crap! It’s windy out here, and the storm turns our direction and we rush to open up the door and, locked! Jason runs to the garage door, but, no power means no garage door opener -duh!

Now what? How about a walk of shame over to the neighbors for the extra key…. Me in a white wife beater… not a good moment. At least I had on a flimsy bra.








Back in the house, we decide on gathering up all the candles and hunkering down for a whole night with just the two of us for entertainment. It was a little romantic, playing crazy 8’s, candles flicking all around us. That was until I played the two of hearts and Jason decided to serenade me with that great 80’s pop tune with the same name…

“Two of hearts… Two hearts that beat as one…. I need you, I need You!!”




That’s the only line either of us knew. After that song got old - which was pretty much immediatly, we picked up some Debbie Gibson and some Tiffany and then things just got a little bit weird.


With no background noise to keep us preoccupied, we took turns playing cards and doing an old fashioned sing along. We had harmonies going, some duets, I’d play the drums on the coffee table… Second lesson learned that night, as dorky as it sounds, I had an awesome time with my husband, just screwing around and being nerdy together! It had been too long since we were forced to be all on our own.


The last lesson we learned didn’t really affect me, but it kept Jason up most of the night. We got in the habit years and years ago to sleep with the static on. No power meant no white noise. I slept like a baby, but Jason was up until the electricity came back on, and he could turn the stereo on an empty station. Will he learn from this, no, but I still wanted to mention it. This morning, the yard was a mess with branches everywhere and our neighbors patio and kid stuff thrown all around. Hubbies at home picking up now, while I’m out enjoying my time at the library.


And that’s why I love the man so much! That, and his ability to remember Tiffany’s greatest hit, “I Think We’re Alone Now.”