McBizzle’s Bizznass!

This evening’s brownout in the city made me think back to the early days without power. Not to sound too nostalgiac, but even inconveniences of my childhood are good memories.

So I know some of you that never lost power as a child are going to think that I grew up in the sticks, but don’t you remember how fun it was to be without electricity? I distinctly remember watching The Wizard of Oz during Hurricane Bob and having the tv cut out just as the tornado was cutting through Dorothy’s Kansas. At this point, Mom got out the flashlights and candles and warned Billy and I not to stay in the room with the skylights and picture windows. As the days like this progressed, Grandma and Grandpa usually came over for dinner and bathing. (My family had a gas stove and gas hot water, where as most families were without these luxuries when the power was down.) The benefit of living on a state-maintained road was that the maintenance crews quickly cleaned up down lines and trees. Despite this fact, there was a hurricane back in the 1980s that caused my family to be without power for more than five days. Since it was summer we did not miss any school, but we still had adventures.

For some reason, it was always a good idea to make a fort out of blankets and chairs when I could not play outside. So… the doctors never technically diagnosed Billy and I with ADHD, but you can imagine what it is like telling the McKids they cannot play outside… there is no good to come of that. Usually the result is what Billy and I called “The Lawn Mower Show” or some such game. This game originated one night when Dad was “watching us” while he mowed the lawn. Billy and I discovered the joy of sailing down the stairs on a nylon sleeping bag! Whee!

Billy and I actually became different people in our play. Our play was nothing less than imaginative. When Billy put on Mom’s nightgown he would not answer to his given name; rather, he was transformed and only answered to the name “Sharon”. (Of course we came up with this name because one of the secretaries in my father’s office was named Sharon.)

I sincerely hope that some day my own children will experience the thrill of pure imaginative play. I really think that aspects in my life such as these are among the most beautiful times I can recall.

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