Be on the Lookout For blessings in disguise By collette caprara had harbored plans of places we could go, things we could do, and people we could visit when, literally, we were left in the dark. It seemed like one of the worst things that could happen during this much-awaited visit. But we could not foresee the treasured moments that the blackout would bring. Though we anticipated that those days with our son would surely involve a good amount of screen time and cellphone engagement, without a source of charging power and internet connection, interaction with our computers and gadgets and gizmos was put on hold. That was replaced with hours spent in close proximity as we huddled around the fireplace in our family room and we all were transformed into our innovative, solution-oriented "best selves." One idea we came up with for a supper that would be memorable was roasting foil-wrapped plant-based sausages over our fireaccomplished with both a sense of humor and pride. In the midst of the sweltering Dog Days of summer, it might seem odd to be talking about the frigid time we experience in January, but that is a subject that is inescapably on my mind-with a message that Blessings Often Come in Disguise.
The hours spent around the glow of that fire gave rise to memories from our past experiences together and stories we may have never shared as we bustled along in the busy-ness of our lives. Even the darkest hours of the night brought a sense of camaraderie and unity as we retired to our beds wearing ski jackets and wool sherpa hats and cozied into our sleeping bags. Those candles that were put away in storage once provided our sole source of light, with a bit of a theatrical touch, as they glowed from their positions throughout the kitchen and family room. And so, the visit that we thought would be lost in the dark days of the loss of all power emerged as one of our most treasured times and a reminder that blessings in disguise may be in store for us all, if we view them through the lens of opportunity.
Collette Caprara is a local writer and artist with Brush Strokes Gallery.
I recently came across a cache of candles in a rarely-opened cupboard, ranging from a group in glass containers with three wicks to a variety of tall candlesticks. That discovery took me back to the Big Storm this winter in which our family lost our power for three days.
This "unfortunate incident" happened just as our son arrived for a rare visit from his home in Japan. All of us
EVERY FRIDAY front porch fredericksburg
August 2022
3
