Brown Outs

Last night’s typhoon brown out reminded me of my childhood. Ozzy and I spent the day with no electricity. No technology. We spent the morning watching the strong winds make the trees bow violently towards the street … we did that for a long while. Then we played with his toys. Then we did puzzles. Although, most of his toys didn’t need electricity, he missed his walks and outside play. No t.v. By 5:00 pm we were bouncing off the walls, and I was singing to occupy myself.

Last night reminded me of my childhood and how my parents occupied five children during brown outs. My dad usually took out his guitar and we would sing with him on candle light. Our favorite line up: “Our house”, “If I had my way,” and all sorts of Peter, Paul, and Mary songs. My dad sang some of them during my wedding. I was lucky to have a dad who knew how to play a guitar. It makes me think I should brush up on my guitar playing for Ozzy.

I think that was how my siblings and I learned to love music and group singing altogether. I think those brown out episodes made our childhood meaningful.