Webbily's Adventures
2024-8-30

The power went out today. 

I was just leaving for volunteer work at the NEEDS Center in Taft, California. As I walked out the gate, my son said the power had just shut off. Thinking about it, I realized that everything was eerily quiet. I told him I’d be back more quickly if they didn’t have power there and left. Don’t worry, my son is 21, he can handle himself when I’m away.

I hoped the NEEDS center wasn’t affected, but I hadn’t had a chance to eat breakfast and my stomach was hurting. I had my driver stop at Lucky 7 to no avail, then tried Dollar General on South 10th. It, too, was closed due to no power. So we thought about other stores nearby where I could grab a water bottle and a quick snack.

I decided to check at the NEEDS Center first. They had power, everything was running smoothly there. We deduced that the outage had only affected the West Side of town from 6th Street Westward. I thought to go to Family Dollar until I checked Facebook, they were closed due to the outage, too. 

Next, we went to the Albertson’s shopping center, few cars there and anyone out in the parking lot were getting back in their cars. My driver asked a lady across the way if it was closed and she said yes. 

We climbed back into the car, I told him to go across town to Dollar Tree. Driving into the shopping center, I saw the lights on the outside so hope had filled me. 

HALELUJAH! 

Dollar Tree had power! I could finally quench my thirst. I had a chance to get that water! My driver stopped next to the sidewalk to drop me off to go in while he parked. I went in, grabbed a few snacks and teas (one for my son, one for me,) and checked out just in time to see my driver step inside. That was perfect timing to head back to the NEEDS Center.

When I arrived, nobody was outside because it was a closed day for ‘normal’ operations due to the Labor Day three-day weekend and only a skeleton crew was there. I made sure to check in and help where I could, unloading bag after bag of clothing. We sorted and stacked all kinds of things from dresses to t-shirts. I got a few things for lunch while there, grateful that I wouldn’t have to spend more money I didn’t have. My bank account is already in the negative, I don’t need anything else dragging me down any further.

When we ended half an hour early because the supervising lady needed to take her husband to an appointment in Bakersfield, my driver was busy so I got a ride back with her. She let me put my food in the back of her truck and I got in the front passenger seat. I told her how someone knows she loves animals by what she had in her front seat area (a bag of pet food and various pet items.) She laughed as she closed up and drove up the hill toward my place.

At first, she passed it but made a quick U-turn to let me out and grab my food box. I got it from the back and headed inside. The power was still off for my side of town.

I put away all the food, washed out the little cooler I had, added food, water, and ice to it, and settled in a camp chair outside to eat my lunch – a simple spinach salad with walnuts, craisins, and cheese with a sweet onion mustard dressing. That was a good lunch, but there was still no power and we needed power to have internet. I needed the internet to post this piece. I needed the power to charge my phone, too.

As I ate, I thought of an idea. I talked to my son and he thought it was a good idea, killing several birds with one stone. My son and I decided to go to The Oasis to leave the swampy house and get into a much cooler environment until the power was restored. When we arrived, the doors were closed for another half hour. So that was it, The Bank was calling our names! 

I sent the driver and my son that direction while I checked my mail at the Post Office. My mail is held until I get a P.O. box or a more permanent housing situation. More on that in a later post.

I went in and had a bill from Full Sail University. Dang it, I want to get back into class! I need the re-entry fee, which my advisor said would only be about $1200 for me to go back. I haven’t had any luck getting that much saved up.

Oh well, out of the Post Office and down the street to The Bank. I went in and saw them waiting for me in a booth. I sat down and got some water. My driver had lemonade and not more than a few minutes went by and we got the notice that the power to the house had been restored. Amazing, all we had to do was leave the house for the power to come back on!

My driver took my son back to the house, I decided to stay and work on this, which I’m glad I did. I accomplished something I’d been trying to do for years. I want to say that I’ve had a lot of fun writing this and will continue to write fun things. I’m a natural writer and will always have something to say.

Enjoy your day!