Just to bring the power-outage story full circle, which I neglected to do before now: Water was also restored later on the same day as the power/heat, and so we were able to return home. That was Tuesday, Dec. 17. As I write this, I understand that power had been restored to most everyone in NH as of yesterday or maybe early today. So, yay! You just don't realize how civilizing a hot shower is until you don't have access to one; that's what I took away from it.

It was one of those experiences that you say, well, I'm glad to know I can survive it -- you know, having to go hunting for 'net access and such -- but I hope I never have to do it again. Kinda like (for me) climbing Mt. Katahdin back in 1984 or thereabouts: Glad I'm able to say I did it, but I'll never forgive the friends who told me it wouldn't be that bad and that Knife Edge was just an easy little pathway between peaks. Granted, though, the experience kind of clarified some things in my head at the time and helped me make an important life decision as I sank to the ground in a blubbering, acrophobic mass about 3/4 of the way across Knife Edge. Could probably use something sudden and undeniable like that now instead of the slow-motion kind of shock to the system I've been experiencing for a few years now. Not very helpful for clarifying future paths when, just as you get comfortable at one level, the bottom drops out AGAIN and you fall still farther down.

So, wait, isn't it some kind of holiday today? Well, dayum. Have a merry happy, or a happy merry, everyone! As I write this, darkness is settling over the ocean, that Pretenders Christmas song is on 'BLM on the car radio, and I am borrowing a beach hotel's wifi. It is very peaceful.

But now it's time to go see if I can track down some canned yams.