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conulyAnd I'm telling everybody, because I have absolutely no false modesty holding me back. NONE.
So, the buses were running on Tuesday, which surprised everybody. I know why, though - our gas stations are absolutely swamped and there have been fights, so buses are a necessity. And on Wednesday we still had no power (and many still don't have, we're very lucky) and the kids everywhere are going stir-crazy, and by talking to my neighbors I realized that nobody had prepared for Halloween. They were all planning on buying later this week, because none of us seriously expected things to be as bad as they were. Our local supermarket got totally flooded out, everything had to be tossed. (The McDonalds on the same block was doing a roaring business, but that's disgusting. Blech. Flood food.) And even if you could find an open supermarket, there were no working ATMs because nobody has internet. And even if you can find a working ATM, it's out of cash!
But the buses were free, so I left and decided to make a trek miles out of my way to the Pathmark on Forest. And the ride took forever because of gas lines and intermittent electricity (guys, just because you can't see what color the light is, that doesn't mean it's green for you. Half the time it HAS to be red. Let other people pass!) I got to Pathmark and, wonder of wonders, they were open! It made me sick to see the taped off frozen and refrigerated sections, thinking of all that food in the garbage, but it has to be done. And I snagged some of the last Halloween candy. AND THEY HAD WORKING DEBIT MACHINES! So I was singing and dancing right there, so happy, and I took out a little cash as well and went home.
On the way I passed a gang of kids, and I asked them "Have you gotten a good haul this year?" and good for them, they were honest. The 12 year old, like 12 year olds will do, tried to be cute and said "Trick or treat?" and then, feeling embarrassed like 12 year olds will, laughed and apologized because of course I wasn't in a house. Boy, was she surprised to see all the candy I had!
And then I got home and I gave a bag of candy to every house with somebody outside so they could give it away. Later I heard somebody bemoaning "I usually have candy, but not this year!" and I dashed across the street to give her some peanut butter cups to give out. "Who was that unmasked neighbor?" "That's just Connie, she's a little weird."
Five, six houses plus mine gave out candy and pretzels, and we had a nice number of kids - not as many as most years which tops 100, but nobody ever believes that but me (which is why nobody gives out candy to every last kid BUT me) - and I singlehandedly saved Halloween, which I think puts me in the Good Neighbor Book for this year. I rock.
Several people were surprised we had trick-or-treaters, but those people don't have kids, or know them. Everybody with kids was anxious to get them out of the house.
And also - the power came back on! Best Halloween ever. Plus, not long after I came home, 'dul showed up with his dad. They'd been worried after two days out of touch (phone service is very spotty). So I fetched Jenn, and I didn't tell her who was at the door, just about killed myself laughing. The nieces are with their dad now, because otherwise they might not see him this weekend if the transit situation doesn't improve. They'll be back by Wednesday.
So, the buses were running on Tuesday, which surprised everybody. I know why, though - our gas stations are absolutely swamped and there have been fights, so buses are a necessity. And on Wednesday we still had no power (and many still don't have, we're very lucky) and the kids everywhere are going stir-crazy, and by talking to my neighbors I realized that nobody had prepared for Halloween. They were all planning on buying later this week, because none of us seriously expected things to be as bad as they were. Our local supermarket got totally flooded out, everything had to be tossed. (The McDonalds on the same block was doing a roaring business, but that's disgusting. Blech. Flood food.) And even if you could find an open supermarket, there were no working ATMs because nobody has internet. And even if you can find a working ATM, it's out of cash!
But the buses were free, so I left and decided to make a trek miles out of my way to the Pathmark on Forest. And the ride took forever because of gas lines and intermittent electricity (guys, just because you can't see what color the light is, that doesn't mean it's green for you. Half the time it HAS to be red. Let other people pass!) I got to Pathmark and, wonder of wonders, they were open! It made me sick to see the taped off frozen and refrigerated sections, thinking of all that food in the garbage, but it has to be done. And I snagged some of the last Halloween candy. AND THEY HAD WORKING DEBIT MACHINES! So I was singing and dancing right there, so happy, and I took out a little cash as well and went home.
On the way I passed a gang of kids, and I asked them "Have you gotten a good haul this year?" and good for them, they were honest. The 12 year old, like 12 year olds will do, tried to be cute and said "Trick or treat?" and then, feeling embarrassed like 12 year olds will, laughed and apologized because of course I wasn't in a house. Boy, was she surprised to see all the candy I had!
And then I got home and I gave a bag of candy to every house with somebody outside so they could give it away. Later I heard somebody bemoaning "I usually have candy, but not this year!" and I dashed across the street to give her some peanut butter cups to give out. "Who was that unmasked neighbor?" "That's just Connie, she's a little weird."
Five, six houses plus mine gave out candy and pretzels, and we had a nice number of kids - not as many as most years which tops 100, but nobody ever believes that but me (which is why nobody gives out candy to every last kid BUT me) - and I singlehandedly saved Halloween, which I think puts me in the Good Neighbor Book for this year. I rock.
Several people were surprised we had trick-or-treaters, but those people don't have kids, or know them. Everybody with kids was anxious to get them out of the house.
And also - the power came back on! Best Halloween ever. Plus, not long after I came home, 'dul showed up with his dad. They'd been worried after two days out of touch (phone service is very spotty). So I fetched Jenn, and I didn't tell her who was at the door, just about killed myself laughing. The nieces are with their dad now, because otherwise they might not see him this weekend if the transit situation doesn't improve. They'll be back by Wednesday.
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no subject
Date: 2012-11-01 07:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-11-01 08:46 pm (UTC)guys, just because you can't see what color the light is, that doesn't mean it's green for you. Half the time it HAS to be red. Let other people pass!
Here the LAW is that a traffic light which is not functioning becomes a four-way stop. I realize, as S. King once wrote, some people just can't grok the idea of a four-way stop where everyone takes turns, but they shoulda learned this in kindergarten.
We were worried about you as well. The news photos were Very Dramatic. (The subway "Path" train with the water gushing in around locked doors and the WTC waterfalls are getting a lot of airtime.)
no subject
Date: 2012-11-02 01:01 am (UTC)But yes, all transit in the city is flooded and totally fucked. It's all underground! That's PATH, btw, I forget what it stands for. It's separate from the MTA, runs through NJ. The MetroNorth goes upstate, and the LIRR is special on Long Island.
no subject
Date: 2012-11-01 10:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-11-01 10:29 pm (UTC)Have a lovely break; you definitely earned it! Huzzah, Halloween Hero!!!!