This is the Sound of Settling

[Above: Cross-stitch I made over the last three days. The following is a written record of the account as it came to me.]

The fireplace casts shadows on the ceiling; the reflections resemble a children's flip-book and at times it seems if it stops the world might well stop along with it.

***

3 stations emerge through the static- 2 of them being country. At this stage a local mix station that I had never given any thought to appears to be my best bet. It's playing a so-so 80's song that could almost pass as a cheap rip-off of Duran Duran. But I'm not complaining, seeing that I'm not cool enough to own an ipod or even a measly MP3 player. Instead I'm forced to drag out my last resort to civilization out of the back of my (at this point cave-like) closet: a portable CD player from the dreaded manufactured date of...2001!!!!!!!! I have limited myself to 1 or 2 cds a day, so that I don't use up all my batteries at once yet don't go entirely loony.

...That is I don't complain until the station plays a terrible rap song older than my CD player followed by Ricky Martin (a name I hadn't heard for ages and with good reason!) That being the last straw I turn off the little radio who's antenna had been ripped off long before and leave it setting all alone crookedly on the windowsill as I walk out of the kitchen into my own solitude.

***

Outside is destruction. The trees lay in ruin (for the most part anyway, and the pines never stood a chance, pardon my pun). Yet I've never seen something so awful look so beautiful. Everything is covered in snow and ice, so white and pure. The trees look as though they're made of glass. And even the ones that bow and break under the weight look eager to go.

***

In my hours of seclusion I've become someone 5 times my age, reading and cross-stitching for the most part. It's now day 3 and everything is becoming routine, almost automatic. Perhaps this proves I would've made it through during the Ice Age or even the Dark Ages (spare the plague haha). Actually I find it rather cozy; the shadows seem like home. I almost don't want it to end in some aspects aside from heat and water. But every hour I also find myself longing to watch a different movie and remembering my all time low brought out of obsession and desperation; as I attempt to listen (not watch, simply listen) to LOST on a 3 by 3 inch battery powered screen attached to the worst black and white TV in existence. As hinted at already the picture was nowhere to be found, or perhaps I should say located, no matter where I pointed the antenna, and the sound quality wasn't far behind. I joked with my family that the first thing I would hear would be *static* Sayid?! *static*. And ironically it was! haha

***

However, this experience (and believe me even 3 days without electric is indeed an experience with my family!) has made me take a step back and realize even though I think of myself as a child of nature, how much I still take for granted. And also how pathetic and dependent our species really is after realizing not being on facebook for 3 days was the longest I'd went without it since acquiring one! Sometimes a smack in the face is what we all need to bring us back down from our superiority and division of social classes and the likes.

***

I'll admit that I enjoy myself better when there are the splendors of civilization and technology to turn to, yet somewhere in the depths of darkness lay inspiration and creativity.

***

Sleep comes easier than I imagined, (and that's really saying something coming from an insomniac!) and overall I don't really have any complaints.....

....And just like that, as if it were never off, the power returned.