Fates Worse Than "Certain Death"

Houston...home to the Johnson Space Center, Astros, Rockets, Comets & Texans, a booming oil industry, live music, theatre, ballet, opera, museums, and millions of people.

Millions of people without electricity.

I am one of them.

On Friday, Sept 15th, at about 8:15 pm, the lights went out. I thought I'd be ready, but at that moment, pangs of uncertainty stabbed at my chest.

Leila was in the bathtub. No clothes were packed, no furniture had been secured and Hurricane Ike was most certainly coming. I darted around in the dark, lighting candles, collecting supplies and trying to lay hold on some sense of calm.

Even with all the news coverage, severe weather warnings, updates and preparation suggestions...no matter how many times CNN reporters uttered the phrase "certain death" , I still wasn't ready for Ike. The 70mph wind gusts and heavy rain tore at my house, peeling off tiles and thrashing it with tree branches. Lightning flashed every other second...for hours.

Finally it stopped.

I had not died (though others were not so lucky).

Saturday morning I ventured out to survey the damage.

My house was pretty much intact (minus a considerable number of shingles and the wooden fence that, at one time, separated my meager yard from my neighbor's).

It would just require a little clean-up. City officials reported significant damage in other parts of town. Flooding in homes, fallen traffic lights and trees, windows blown out of high-rise buildings downtown. They estimated 2-4 weeks before all 2.2 million Houston residents without power would be able to turn on their lights.

I shrugged. "There's no way it could take that long".

Saturday evening, already tired of the stiffling heat, we headed over to my bf's parents home in Katy. They had just gotten power. We'd go back home as soon as we got the word that power had been restored at our house.

Sunday passed, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Still no power. I cringe to think about what the contents of my refrigerator is doing right now.

But I have precious little time to worry about it. You see, with schools cancelled all the way from Galveston to Huntsville, I've got a little time off work. And being the glutton for punishment that I am, I offered to babysit my bf's sister's two children...ages 5 & 19 mths.

Just think....1 hurricane aftermath (including fuel shortages, closed businesses, general uncertainty) + 3 children - the patience of Kate Gosling (from Jon and Kate plus 8) ...or Ghandi.... and you've got a fate worse than "facing certain death." I'm not exaggerating (very much).

Not convinced? See below.

Child #1 : I'm bored

Me: Why don't you girls play a quiet game?

Child #2: Okay, let's see who can flip off the couch!

Me: No. No couch flipping.

Child #2: See! I told you she wouldn't let us do it. Stupid.

Me: Don't call her stupid.

Child #1: I'm tellin'. She called me stupid! (burst into tears). You not my friend no more!

Child #2: So! You called me names too! For real! (turning to me) She did! Yesterday.

Baby: Bababahhhhh!!

Me: Where's the baby?

Child #1: He wanna go downstairs

Me: (darting over to the stairs....for the 33rd time) No! Come back here!

Baby: Awan bah! Awan bah! [translation: I want ball]...(bursts into tears)

It goes on...really.

But I'll spare you.

Let's just say that I make a waaaaay better high school teacher than stay-at-home-mom.

Seriously, in times like these, we're tempted to complain about our circumstances. I know I am. I mean, I do. But then I think about the reality of all of this.

Thousands are worried sick about their businesses, their families, their homes. We don't know when everything will go back to normal...or if it ever really will.

But for those who stared down "certain death" and survived, even for those only slightly inconvenienced by a lack of electricity, there is much to be thankful for.

Helen Keller said it best..." Life is an adventure or it is nothing"

Imagine what life would be like if nothing unexpected ever happened. Now THAT would be a fate worse than death.