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Christmas simplicity = losing electricity!

December 30th, 2005 · No Comments

This Christmas was one we will remember. From our bed, early that morning, above sound of the heavy rain, Ted and I heard the beep of the smoke alarms and knew we had lost electricity. We went back to sleep hoping it would return soon but had Christmas morning and much of the day without power. So did many others on the island.

Sleep-deprived (as Santa always is?), I felt frustrated by the additional complications brought by the darkness. Most of my dilemma centered on a piece of pork. What would we do with the meat marinating in the refrigerator without our electric oven? The former microbiologist in me had her concerns. In the afternoon, I ventured into the refrigerator and grabbed the ham in its brine (Coca-Cola, salt and herbs, as we did last year). Hacking off pieces, I fried bits of meat in our wok on top of the gas range. It tasted chewy but was better than losing the roast. By 4 pm the power had returned again and I was able to cook the rest of it in the oven. We had ham with potatoes and beans, the same meal, twice on Christmas.

Yet there was a beauty and simplicity to the day. When the girls and I got up, we got out candles from the cupboard. Instead of the busy breakfast of waffles, bacon and eggs we had planned, we ate cake and sparkling cider by candlelight.

In a sense, it seemed appropriate to celebrate Jesus’ birthday without electricity.

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And there was peace in the darkness and stillness.

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