June 23, 2011

White Dog looked up with mild interest when Michael came home from school. Now that he is riding public transportation he has become our neighborhood news reporter and today he announced that there was a power line down a few blocks away which the police had barricaded and the power company had just arrived to repair.

No sooner had he spoken the words than our power went out. It was early afternoon and the temperature was over 100 degrees F. We needed the swamp cooler to send its cool air wafting over us. No luck...and no distractions were available via the computer...we couldn't even call friends since our phone system is VOIP. The White Dogs started pacing. Michael went downstairs to play his handheld game system and to do what all teens do in times of crisis...nap.

Even though there was not a leaf stirring, the yard was shady and offered psychological relief. So I called the WDA together. "Let's have a picnic lunch in the yard," I said as I began filling a pitcher with ice. "Let's see...we have guacamole...chips...grape tomatoes, carrot sticks (one of YoYoMa's favorites)...oh look here's some queso fresca!" I loaded everything into my arms and flipped my head to indicate that WD, TOWD, AWD, SAWD and YAWD should follow their noses.

White Dog stopped mid-step. "Hey, let's not forget the duck jerky!" I called over my shoulder and WD trotted back to my chair and hopped up. She looked to make sure she was not being set up to get in trouble before she stood on the other arm and stretched so that she could gently grab the purple bag in her teeth. She met us on the deck by taking the dogdoor shortcut.

I poured ice into the big community water bowl and filled it with fresh water. Then I pulled the cushions around to comfy positions so all could surround me as we dined. In our walled oasis, the birds chirped and we could hear all the busy-ness on famous Route 66, just a block and a half away from our house. It was still hot but somehow it seemed less oppressive, almost fun.

I reached another chip loaded with guacamole to Quinn and started laughing, but not at the little green mustache he had from the avocados (although it was adorably cute). "Think about this you all," I said to my White Ones, "Dad and I go to extreme extra effort and cost to not buy you any foods with corn products or fillers and here I am feeding you corn chips! How crazy is that?"

"OK," Nuka said quietly to White Dog, "I think momma's been out in the heat a little too long. Her brain is going soft." As if on command, at just that moment, we all heard the swamp cooler fan kick on which meant that we had electricity once more! Gratefully we moved the party back inside.