Today is June 15th. I will never forget this day. After all the chores were done we all went on a picnic at the nearby lake and we took fishing poles and fished. We had to use the van which seats 7 people and the truck which seats 5 to take everyone but we did it. It was a tigh fit because we had to have the kids sit in some one lap so we could take our neighbors but it didn't feel right not including them. While some of us older folks fished the younger adults were teaching the kids how to swim. Even Maci was having a blast in the water. She is a year old now and they were taking turns holding her on the water's surface and letting her kick and splash. She was giddy with excitement and laughing so hard that we could not help but laugh with her. We had brought her pack and play crib with us and when she finally got tired of the water Steve sat it up near me and Nikki laid Maci in it. Maci promptly went to sleep so Nikki went back with the rest of the young adults and I watched Maci while I was fishing. After we ate the younger members of our group took the kids and went for a walk around the lake. Nikki's boyfriend had joined us and he was carring Maci onh his shoulders. She was loving the attention he gave her. The rest of us just sat around enjoying the warm relaxing day.
We were not the only ones that decide today would be the perfect day for a picnic and a day of fun. There were lots of other familes at the lake. There were families every where around the lake having a good time. The sound of laughter filled the air and there was such a peacefullness like none of us had ever had before. It was like we had no worries in our lives. Every thing was perfect. No hint of what we had been through for the last 19 months.
When we came home John, Dave and the neighbor cleaned all the fish we caught. We had enough blue gills and small mouth bass for a fish fry that night. We still had enough coleslaw and potato salad left over from the picnic so that would be part of the fish fry. Tammy made ice tea while I made up a batter for making hush puppies. After we had eaten and everything had been cleaned up we continued sitting outside enjoying the warm evening air and looking at the stars that were starting to twinkle in the darkening night sky.
Soon talk turned to what we had all missed since the power went out. We all were expecting the power to come back on soon because the town was getting reports of power being restored in other parts of the country. Steve said he missed his video games, Mike and JR said they missed their stereo systems. John and Dave admitted they missed their tv and satilite tv, Julie missed her church and her friends she made in church. Tammy missed her friends in Indiana and shopping in the big towns down there. Nikki missed hanging out with her friends in Indiana. Jen missed her family who lived on the reservation up north. The neighbors missed their kids and grandkids. I missed my son and his family and my internet friends I had made through the years and the daily news of what was going on in the world.
After awhile we all became quite and were just sitting there looking at the stars. I think every one was doing the same thing I was. Thinking about all the people we miss and the things we use to do when we had power. Suddenly there was a flash of light and a burst of music. It only lasted a couple of seconds so we were not really sure we saw or heard anything. Then it happened again and again. Finally the fouth time the light stayed on and the music kept playing. It took us a mintue to realize where it was coming from. I had left one light on in the kitchen all this time as a way of letting us know when the power came back on and Steve had forgotten to turn off the cassette player he had on in the garage when he turned off the generator this morning. We all waited a couple of mintues to see if the power would stay one. As soon as we realized it was going to stay on we were all shouting for joy. People all over the neighbor hood were coming out to celebrate. Everyone had turned on the lights in their houses and now were out looking at the town which was now lit up like a Christmas tree. Everyone was hooping and hollering, jumping for joy, dancing and hugging.
Mike ran, grabbed a radio and plug it in to the garage. It took him a couple of minutes to find a radion station that was broadcasting. The first thing we heard was the song "Lean on Me" playing. After it was done playing the dj came on and said that the song said it all and that people needed to lean on each other during times of trouble. Then he began the news. Power was now restored to almost all of the USA and parts of Canada and Mexico. It would be at least another 2 months before power was fully restored to the most remote areas of all 3 countries. The power grids and the refineries had been taken out with bombs in a very well planned coordinated series of attacks. The governments knew who had done it and some of those responible were now in custody. They were looking for the rest. Martial law would remain in effect for a least another year in all the bigger cities since most of the gangs had went to the big cities on the eastern sea board once they learned that power had been restored there. Fema and Homeland Security had taken over most of the nations food supplies and was handing it out. No banks or stores were open yet but some are expected to open shortly. It would be another 3-4 months before social security checks and welfare checks would be given out so people are being given ration stamps to help buy what they can. Food aid was coming in from Japan, South America, Russia and some other countries.
The power grid had been so badly destoryed that it had to be completey rebuilt. That is the reason it had taken so long. The refiniers should be up and running in a month or so. The attackers had even taken out most of the pipelines for naturl gas and crude oil in all 3 countries. All 3 countries had been severely crippled by the attacks.
The president signed orders that no one could try to collect payments for cars, houses, electric and gas for one year. Then once everyone had an income coming in again they were to set up payment schedules to give everyone a chance to catch up a little at a time. People on social security and welfare would get back payments but they would be given out a little each month in with the regular checks once money started flowing again.
In the mean time the laws that govern each state are still in effect and lawbreakers would be dealth with harshly by the Army and National Guard. Hospitals are being reopened and anyone with severe medical needs can go to the hospital for treatment. Any one needing meds must bring their last presciption bottles they had gotten filled in the two months prior to the power for each med they needed refills for. No bottles no meds since the internet would not be restored for another month at least so hospitals could not pull up health records to check on what meds you might need.
All local law enforcement was being called back to their jobs. Anyone who does not report back will no longer have jobs.
All emegency service people are being told to report to their jobs and gas for their emgenecy vichles would be delivered with in the next few days. The government was releasing the fuel reserves only to the Army, National Guard, Fema, Homeland Services, local law enforcement and local emergencies services. No one else would be able to get gas for awhile yet.
The president is calling for everyone to remain calm and to cooperate with local law enforcement and Fema when it makes to our area. He says everything will be fully restored and running by the end of the year. For now everyone is to remain where they are and no travel is being allowed. Any one caught traveling will be arrested and placed in jail.
We were not the only ones that decide today would be the perfect day for a picnic and a day of fun. There were lots of other familes at the lake. There were families every where around the lake having a good time. The sound of laughter filled the air and there was such a peacefullness like none of us had ever had before. It was like we had no worries in our lives. Every thing was perfect. No hint of what we had been through for the last 19 months.
When we came home John, Dave and the neighbor cleaned all the fish we caught. We had enough blue gills and small mouth bass for a fish fry that night. We still had enough coleslaw and potato salad left over from the picnic so that would be part of the fish fry. Tammy made ice tea while I made up a batter for making hush puppies. After we had eaten and everything had been cleaned up we continued sitting outside enjoying the warm evening air and looking at the stars that were starting to twinkle in the darkening night sky.
Soon talk turned to what we had all missed since the power went out. We all were expecting the power to come back on soon because the town was getting reports of power being restored in other parts of the country. Steve said he missed his video games, Mike and JR said they missed their stereo systems. John and Dave admitted they missed their tv and satilite tv, Julie missed her church and her friends she made in church. Tammy missed her friends in Indiana and shopping in the big towns down there. Nikki missed hanging out with her friends in Indiana. Jen missed her family who lived on the reservation up north. The neighbors missed their kids and grandkids. I missed my son and his family and my internet friends I had made through the years and the daily news of what was going on in the world.
After awhile we all became quite and were just sitting there looking at the stars. I think every one was doing the same thing I was. Thinking about all the people we miss and the things we use to do when we had power. Suddenly there was a flash of light and a burst of music. It only lasted a couple of seconds so we were not really sure we saw or heard anything. Then it happened again and again. Finally the fouth time the light stayed on and the music kept playing. It took us a mintue to realize where it was coming from. I had left one light on in the kitchen all this time as a way of letting us know when the power came back on and Steve had forgotten to turn off the cassette player he had on in the garage when he turned off the generator this morning. We all waited a couple of mintues to see if the power would stay one. As soon as we realized it was going to stay on we were all shouting for joy. People all over the neighbor hood were coming out to celebrate. Everyone had turned on the lights in their houses and now were out looking at the town which was now lit up like a Christmas tree. Everyone was hooping and hollering, jumping for joy, dancing and hugging.
Mike ran, grabbed a radio and plug it in to the garage. It took him a couple of minutes to find a radion station that was broadcasting. The first thing we heard was the song "Lean on Me" playing. After it was done playing the dj came on and said that the song said it all and that people needed to lean on each other during times of trouble. Then he began the news. Power was now restored to almost all of the USA and parts of Canada and Mexico. It would be at least another 2 months before power was fully restored to the most remote areas of all 3 countries. The power grids and the refineries had been taken out with bombs in a very well planned coordinated series of attacks. The governments knew who had done it and some of those responible were now in custody. They were looking for the rest. Martial law would remain in effect for a least another year in all the bigger cities since most of the gangs had went to the big cities on the eastern sea board once they learned that power had been restored there. Fema and Homeland Security had taken over most of the nations food supplies and was handing it out. No banks or stores were open yet but some are expected to open shortly. It would be another 3-4 months before social security checks and welfare checks would be given out so people are being given ration stamps to help buy what they can. Food aid was coming in from Japan, South America, Russia and some other countries.
The power grid had been so badly destoryed that it had to be completey rebuilt. That is the reason it had taken so long. The refiniers should be up and running in a month or so. The attackers had even taken out most of the pipelines for naturl gas and crude oil in all 3 countries. All 3 countries had been severely crippled by the attacks.
The president signed orders that no one could try to collect payments for cars, houses, electric and gas for one year. Then once everyone had an income coming in again they were to set up payment schedules to give everyone a chance to catch up a little at a time. People on social security and welfare would get back payments but they would be given out a little each month in with the regular checks once money started flowing again.
In the mean time the laws that govern each state are still in effect and lawbreakers would be dealth with harshly by the Army and National Guard. Hospitals are being reopened and anyone with severe medical needs can go to the hospital for treatment. Any one needing meds must bring their last presciption bottles they had gotten filled in the two months prior to the power for each med they needed refills for. No bottles no meds since the internet would not be restored for another month at least so hospitals could not pull up health records to check on what meds you might need.
All local law enforcement was being called back to their jobs. Anyone who does not report back will no longer have jobs.
All emegency service people are being told to report to their jobs and gas for their emgenecy vichles would be delivered with in the next few days. The government was releasing the fuel reserves only to the Army, National Guard, Fema, Homeland Services, local law enforcement and local emergencies services. No one else would be able to get gas for awhile yet.
The president is calling for everyone to remain calm and to cooperate with local law enforcement and Fema when it makes to our area. He says everything will be fully restored and running by the end of the year. For now everyone is to remain where they are and no travel is being allowed. Any one caught traveling will be arrested and placed in jail.