Thousands of people had to change their holiday plans... maybe millions worldwide. We were supposed to go to the Buffalo area. We were going to leave on Friday morning but by Wednesday, family was urging me NOT to come. The expected storm would be dangerous and would hit right while we would be driving. I considered leaving a day early. The boy would have to miss his holiday party at school though, and I hated to do that to him. So with all the craziness of tree decorating, present wrapping and last minute shopping I moved "packing" to the bottom of the priority list. It looked like we would have to wait until AFTER Christmas to travel.
It was a bitter pill to swallow and I tried to console myself by remembering to be grateful. We would be safe and warm, while many would not be so lucky. I thought of a story a friend once told me. She had been complaining about a hopeless situation until the listener said quietly, "Are you done?" (She was.) Then he told her, "Change your mind."
I knew I had to change my mind. I had to tell myself it was best NOT to travel for Christmas this year. Then came a series of events leading to an emotional rollercoaster.
First, on Thursday evening, school was cancelled for Friday but we had not planned to leave early. We were not packed and it was unlikely we would be able to get it together without the danger of being up all night and falling asleep at the wheel. It would be chaos and we would still run the risk of getting stuck along the route with road closures. The pill got more bitter. If I had only packed as planned, we could've made it. It was so disappointing. "Change your mind" echoed in my head. I had to try harder.
The next plot twist occurred Friday night. The hot water went out. We had just done the dishes and run the washing machine, but it still seemed odd. I waited to let the hot water replenish. It never did. "Something is wrong" I said to Russ. Then the furnace started blowing cool air and the temperature inside the house started to drop. It was only 8 degrees (Fahrenheit) outside. The boy was asleep.
A sort of frenzy ensued as we tried to understand what was happening. With calls in to emergency technicians, faucets trickling, and a relative degree of confidence that we could stay warm enough with alternate heat sources, we finally called it a night.
We woke up on Christmas Eve day with a mission to stay warm and safe, while fixing the problem (after figuring out what the problem even WAS) and proceed with Christmas and Hanukkah plans. After over 24 hours of trying and countless calls and technicians, we thought the immediate problem was fixed, but then the technician left and the heat went out again. Russ said something I will never forget: "If we were not here, we would've come back to find burst pipes."
There it was. I knew I had to change my mind about the disappointment of canceling Christmas with family, but this made things crystal clear. I KNEW it was best that we did not travel.
We got through Christmas and by the end of the night we had heat and hot water. It appears a pin sized hole in a casing was to blame for letting air into lines, disrupting the whole system. Had we not been here, it is likely pipes would have frozen and possibly ruptured.
There is so much to be grateful for. We are safe. Our friends and family in Buffalo are safe. I was given a gift in receiving a rare glimpse of proof, where faith alone would usually have to suffice. Also, from a place of safety, I was shown what it is like to lose heat. I'm reminded of all those (especially in Ukraine right now) without a warm place to live. We have so much work to do. No one should suffer in the cold. Circumstances can change very quickly, and we have to be better at helping each other.
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Heartfelt condolences to all who have suffered loss due to this terrible storm and through the many horrors of war.
May we all remember how Blessed we are to be here.
Wishing you peace, safety and warmth this holiday season.
Love,
T
