I will always remember the December/January 2013 issue. More specifically, I’ll never forget the process of putting this issue together during and after, Hurricane Sandy.
In the days leading up to the hurricane, we had heeded the oft-repeated storm preparedness warnings: we gassed-up both cars, had flashlights, candles and firewood in place, and stocked plenty of water. The actual day of the storm, Monday, October 29, with the wind whipping and the rain pouring, Andrea and I were working non-stop to get as many things done as possible before the anticipated power outage. I was in my home office attending to every last incoming and outgoing email, organizing and printing any ads and articles that had come in, and running my credit card sales. Andrea was in the kitchen, cooking up the perishables and everything else that could get us by the first couple of powerless days. My food contribution was heating up the frozen foods. (Ok, so my kitchen efforts were neither creative nor heroic, but they did prove valuable, providing a couple more meals and saving our frozen veggie burgers from a certain wasteful, and senseless death).
At around 4PM, just as I was shutting down my computer, and the stove timer sounding that the rice was done, the house went dark and silent. Game on — but we had no idea that this one was going into triple overtime.
For nine days, we went without any power of any kind — no lights, no heat, no hot water, no gas cooking stove, no telephone or Internet. We did make constant use of our fireplace and a cast-iron pot, cooking one-pot meals on an open flame. We have a whole new appreciation for that fireplace now; it helped to make those cold nights a little less brutal.
While our area is dealing with many downed trees and property damage, thankfully, our home is otherwise intact. However, as I write this, 17 days after the storm, we are still without telephone or Internet service. Literally, while I was writing this paragraph, a Verizon repairman appeared on my road for the first time since we lost service. My exhilaration quickly turned to resignation when he intoned, “The pole with the main cable is down. I have no idea when the construction and the line crews will be able to get here.” Alrighty, then.
So what this means, is that with two days to deadline to get the December/January Issue to the printer, I will simply continue working the same as I have since the beginning of this odyssey: I’ve been taking Creations Magazine “on the road.” With laptop and cell phone in tow, and an eye on the gas tank, I sought out a network of WiFi friendly locations. If not for my new “support staff,” you are not reading this issue.
I set up “satellite offices” at various locations for the final two and a half weeks leading up to my deadline: I initially found refuge in a warm, Main Street, Northport, L.I. coffee shop — and continued to work there for many days after. They opened their doors to all needing connection to Internet, electrical device charging and particularly, to other people dealing with damage to both property and spirit.
Live Island Vegan Café in Huntington, not only welcomed me to camp out in their cozy take-out during business hours, the owner even allowed me after-hours access as well. Vegan heaven.
Most of my advertisers pay by credit card. Without any electric or telephone I was unable to process any sales. That meant zero income. The manager at People’s United Bank saved me from falling off my own personal “financial cliff,” by setting me up, along with my credit card terminal, in a back office.
Our friend Jan hooked us up with hot showers, clean laundry and a workspace. She’s now one or our favorite friends.
The truth of the matter, is that for most of us, the temporary loss of heat and hot water had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience. Tens of thousands of folks along the East coast continue to struggle with the total loss of their homes and businesses. Over 100 lost their lives. To the grief stricken, I wish them comfort and healing.
For those who lost “only” property, as world-rattling as it could surely be, my wish is that they can eventually put it into proper perspective, and realize, regardless of the value placed upon these items, that ultimately, they are just “things.” Most of this stuff can be replaced — hopefully through insurance. Perhaps, they will even discover that many things don’t even need to be replaced.
I received an email from a friend of Creations Magazine, who described her house and property loss as “soul devastating.” I could literally feel the heaviness of her sadness. But while her emotions were so very real, after getting past the initial jolt of the message, my feeling was sorrow, more for her reaction to the loss, rather than the loss itself. My sincere hope for my friend, and for thousands who are enduring similar losses, is that with time, they can clearly process the shock and grief, and reconcile their circumstances.
I know talk is cheap, but I too have been acquainted with loss. There was a time, after enjoying many years of business success, when I found myself with only two small boxes of clothing to my name. That hardly mattered — this New Years’ will be the 11th since I’ve been in contact with the person that will always matter most in my life. I’m still “processing” that one.
The reality of this hurricane experience is that Andrea and I have lost nothing. In fact, we have gained so much. For starters, we’ve learned a few interesting things: 1) an indoor temperature of 50 degrees at night is really cold 2) we were able to survive 9 days of “19th century life”, relying on candles and our fireplace for light, heat and cooking 3) without artificial lighting, our bodies react to night-time darkness the way we were originally designed — we got tired a lot earlier, and went to sleep by 9:30PM every night and 4) home computers allow us to work at all hours, including late nights and weekends. It was a real treat to play cards and board games instead of looking at an illuminated screen that keeps us up needlessly late. With the exception of deadline times, we have kicked the late night computer habit. My workday now ends hours before I go to bed. As a result, I sleep more restfully too.
Most importantly, we have benefited from, and witnessed countless acts of kindness. I am heartened and honored to know people who volunteered at shelters, and another woman with three fairly young children, who prepared trays of hot meals, and with her kids and food loaded into her minivan, delivered to the newly homeless on Long Island’s devastated South Shore. That is called teaching the kids by example.
These souls are the true Spiritual Activists — they are actively making a positive contribution to our world. This is what and whom we need to focus our attention on. Not the gas lines, not the television, not the newspapers. These are intended to perpetuate negativity, which in turn, creates only more of the same. Focus on what you want, not on what you don’t want.
Peace NOW is the title of our December/January Holiday Issue. Accordingly, James O’Dea, the “Peace Ambassador” provides our lead article. The New Peace Movement is about action, not anger. We cannot bring about peace by perpetuating violence of any kind. As Paul Ferrini has written, “We come to peace by being peaceful … the goal of peace and the process of peace are one and the same.” NOW, is the time for all of us to become peace ambassadors.
Have a Peaceful Holiday and New Year,
Neil & Andrea
