Waiting for the Light

LIPA workers have been doing a wonderful job of getting residents back on line.  The massive devastation and related problems with gas and closed roads only exacerbated what was already a crisis situation for local residents and families across the Island. Our neighborhood, along Old Post Road East and Crystal Brook Hollow Road still remains dark and cold. 

I write this from the Village Center in Port Jefferson, which has been a literal life saver for those of us without heat and electric. It is warm here and comfortable.  Children can read here, do school work if they have it to do, and plug their electronic devices to play video games. Others conduct business from upstairs which looks out upon the harbor. We even have a CD player which plays Crosby, Stills, and Nash over and over again.

We exchange stories about the downed trees, finding a gas station,the chance of getting our power back before the next storm which is on its way, and think about how much better off we are than most who have lost everything. It's cold at home. However, most people are making the most of it. Getting a heater,gas or kerosene, is almost impossible. Friends invite friends to stay over. Others hunker down at home, under the covers waiting for the break of day when the sun will start to warm up the house. Still, we are safe. We have our homes, our loved ones,and hope that soon this will come to an end.

I have learned how fortunate we are to live in this community. We have a center that is open to the community. We have places that serve soup and a hot cup of coffee. We have neighbors that for the most part are willing to help each other, storing food if they have electric, offering a warm place to stay and a hot shower.

We wait for the power to go on, but we wait knowing it can always be a lot worse and that we are going to survive this and be stronger and more caring for having endured Sandy. Stay safe and help one another when and if you can.