The Great Oklahoma Ice Storm of '07

Oklahoma is an arduous place.If it's not dust bowls it's locusts, if it's not cataclysmic tornadoes it's chiggers. If it's not copperheads it's great ice storms. I am here at ground zero of the historic Great Oklahoma Ice Storm of '07. The storm is historic in that it is the greatest, most extensive, involving the greatest percentage of the state's population, most persisting electricity outage in the history of the state of Oklahoma. The weight of ice brings down, disconnects the cable. Ice storms shred the grid.Aboriginal prophets Black Elk, MoonFace Bear (see Jah D.E.P. at www.libbyhome.blogspot.com ), tell of a time when the very nature of electricity will change as the very nature of the world will change. They tell of a time when the electricity will stop. Inevitably, almost by definition, it is not-business-as-usual (n-b-a-u) when the electricity stops. When the electricity stopped, we (my host Phillip and his lovely daughter Donna) soon realized it was a great excuse to have a feast. The readiness is all - Phillip is ready for The Great Oklahoma Ice Storm of '07. Phillip lives for these events. When the electricity stopped, he broke out a kerosene heater, great jugs of water, propane lanterns. I had made an abundant Pasta Sinatra the previous day. Phil had prepared a large crock of succulent ribs, vegetables, sauerkraut, also biscuits. We drove into Norman to see if there still was a United States of America. And we knew there was when we saw the bright light of the Walmart. The Walmart had just gotten its electricity back. The shelves of food were being restocked. There was a festive mood. Phillip got essential food stocks such as baklava, also propane. We then ventured into darkest, deepest Norman. There were small, scattered patches of light in the residential neighborhoods, the downtown, the university. We were about to give up our search – and then we found it. An essential service had been restored. There was a lighted-up, open liquor store. Inside all were joyous. All were in an almost reverential awe of the miracle of the lighted-up, open liquor store. In and of itself, it was another good excuse to have a feast, to have a party. About 30 hours after the electricity stopped – it started again. The electricity went on as Phillip and myself were making a greater, further plan for the feast. Business-as-usual is resuming in Oklahoma. But there is no reason why the not-business-as-usual feast can't continue. And in these darkest, shortest days of the year I wish all a joyous solstice feast of the n-b-a-u.