Weathering the unexpected

Written by Robin Glowa
Tuesday, 08 November 2011 23:00

“Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only for one second without hope.”

— Unknown

There is a certain strange eloquence to catastrophe. The freakish Halloween storm that recently rendered towns like mine completely powerless, plunging 100% of the community into the dark, brought on a number of situations and a range of emotions.

Anger, that such a storm would come so soon on the heels of Hurricane Irene, frustration at not being able to have the day flow in it’s normal way, disappointment for the many Halloween revelers who had to sadly pack away their costumes until next October.

But there is also gratitude that loved ones are alive and well, (albeit cold and dirty), and astonishment that the sun shone so brightly and with such warmth as soon as the following day.

Having no power does not make us lose our internal power however. In fact, it often brings out the brightest lights of humanity. Neighbors take care of neighbors, cutting up fallen trees or lending batteries and flashlights, townspeople gather to hand out water and food, friends offer friends hot showers or a clean bed for the night, and family members who have power offer each other their homes as an extended haven.

When the lights go out and we can’t cook, clean, work on our computers, watch TV or do any of the normal activities we are so used to, we are abruptly forced to change and adapt. Suddenly we are compelled to slow down and live utterly in the moment. We find new things to be grateful for, such as that first hot shower that feels more delicious than anything, or the gift of a homecooked meal or a steaming hot bowl of takeout soup.

You are grateful for any business with free WiFi that allows you to set up camp for a six-hour stint. But mostly you are grateful for the realization that tomorrow is a new day, and there is a new opportunity to prepare a delicious life.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. If you have no cooking source but a pantry full of goods, make up a snack mix of cereal, nuts, dried fruits, pretzels and chocolate chips. If the fruit bowl is full, enjoy an apple with peanut butter to fill you up with fiber and protein.

If you have an outdoor grill that is full of fuel, wrap potatoes and onion slices in foil packets, sprinkle first with olive oil, salt and pepper and some Italian seasoning. Grill until a fork goes easily through the potatoes, remove from heat and carefully peel back foil. Believe me, It will taste like a gourmet meal!

Robin Glowa, HHC, AADP, is a food and wellness enthusiast who earned her certification in holistic health counseling from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and Columbia University Teachers College. She specializes in teaching healthy cooking classes for children and adults, as well as cooking presentations and wellness workshops for many local organizations. For more information go to theconsciouscook.net, call 203-393-1037, or http://confessionsofaconsciouscook.blogspot.com/

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