Powerless

Today, we have realized that we are powerless. Literally and figuratively.

We are powerless to control the weather. We know this and yet, we continually risk everything, plan a vacation around SUN and FUN and HEAT and get slapped in the face with our krappy karma. It is COLD in Sunny-ville. Frost cold. Fleece sweaters and jackets cold. Damn cold. I can stand cold when my head tells me it’s supposed to be COLD, like at home, with 3 ft of snow. I have a hard time processing that here where the palm trees and shining sun make me THINK it’s not SUPPOSED to be cold. Good old fashioned brain screw there.

However, despite the COLD, today Hubster and Dad hit the golf course with Uncle. They also played pool (indoors) which involved a lot of explanation to the girls that no, Daddy and Poppy were not going to the POOL to go swimming, they were going to bang balls around on tables with sticks. They still don’t get it.

That left Mum and I to figure out what to do with 2 small children on a cold and windy day in a retirement community who do not feel any need to have things to entertain small children. Baboo was whiney and so we decided to brave the cold and wind and take them to the park. After 30 minutes, a few trips down the slide and having the cold wind totally blow us away, while Baboo continued to whine the whole time, we decided to ditch the park and go to Walmart to pick up a few things.

While wandering in Walmart we decided that we wanted something hot and since we are “powerless” to fight the urge for Stouffer’s mac and cheese (I know its’ crap, but it’s still good), that’s what we bought for lunch. We were all looking forward to sinking into a spoonful of that creamy, hot cheesiness. We also promised the girls that this afternoon we’d make CAKE to take for dinner with Great Aunt and Uncle.

When we got home, hurriedly shuffling windswept little girls into the house, we tried to turn on the oven to preheat it for said promised cake baking. After a few choice words, Mum realized that “Hey! The oven’s not on!” and after I explained several times that the emergency flashlight on the wall WILL still light up even when the power is out because it has its’ OWN battery, we all agreed that the power, literally was out.

We were without power. And there was no heat. And it was cold. And there was no cake baking. And there was no mac and cheese.

We waited a while to see if the power would kick on. We thought about firing up the bbq for grilled cheese or something hot for lunch. We kept holding out, for like an hour, hoping that the power would be on any minute for us to make our coveted mac and cheese. Then we got too hungry and had cold sandwiches.

And there was much whining and pouting and complaining – 99% of it done by Mum and I. Then we convinced the guys to go and get HOT coffee and donuts, cos Lord knows, we need some DONUTS. Oy.

And I was powerless to stop Mouse from running around in a bathing suit and skort (and that’s it) all afternoon, despite having no heat and frigid temperatures.

And we were powerless to avoid the sun room with the sun pouring in on 3 sides, making it the warmest room in the house, despite having 3 walls of vinyl only.

And I was powerless to say no (not that I wanted to) to Mouse when she asked for a juice and a snack and Mommy time while Baboo napped today (eventually). We sat in the rocking chair in the sun room under a toasty burgundy fleece blanket, read every book we brought, and when we ran out of those we looked through my Mum’s quilting magazines saying on every single page “oooo! That’s so pretty” to every pretty quilt or scrap of fabric we saw.

And I was powerless to hold back any laughs at the girls yelling ‘FASTER’ as we rode on the back of my Aunt’s golf cart when she drove us around on a tour of her community. We were topped out at 23 mph, but it felt like we were flying.

And I was powerless to contain the swell of love and pride I felt when after behaving so wonderfully at Aunt and Uncle’s home for dinner, they helped to bring a smile to Aunt/Uncle’s elderly friend’s face when they both ran to her first (without any prompting) and hugged her, thanking her sincerely for letting them play with her “special friends” (a small stuffed cat, bear and dog).

Thankfully, the power was back on when we got home from dinner. It had been out for at least 5 hours. Tonight, we have heat and light and hot coffee and left over donuts.

And despite the trip not being exactly what I hoped for (sunshine and HEAT), I’m powerless to deny that we’ve really had a good time so far and are glad to have come.