The Old Ways

Now that life has mostly returned to normal after the impact of Hurricane Ike, I have gained a greater appreciation for the need to learn the old ways of living. Over a century ago, people didn't have the luxury of air conditioning or cable TV to let them know when a storm was approaching. They knew how to get by with very little and weren't afraid to put some work into acquiring their basic needs. Today, we have become too accustomed to relying on gadgets and utilities that make life far easier than our 19th century counterparts could ever imagine. In short, we've become lazy and self-indulgent. In my own experience this past week, I felt a bit lost and frustrated by my own loss of services. I felt like I was going through withdrawal from my cable TV and internet, as well as the conveniences of refrigeration, ready hot water, and cooking with a modern stove. I found myself anxious for the return of these services and that anxiety increased as people around me began to receive their utilities again while I continued to wait for my turn.

During the past week, my family went without power, cable TV, internet, occasional phone service, and ready access to cold foods. Ice, gasoline, C & D batteries, and basic essentials for sanitation were in short supply. Time seemed to slow down and I soon found myself losing track of the days. Our routine was turned on its ear. I felt like I was thrown back 100 years to some degree. Having no electricity, we relied upon oil lamps and candles and to use them wisely, we went to bed early. Without modern technology, there wasn't much to do at night. Lacking refrigeration, we had to use food quickly and any leftovers were discarded once the meal was over. Baths were ice cold; not having the luxury of an old-fashioned wood-burning cast iron stove, we had no hot water. Had my power not returned when it had, I would have also had to resort to the old-fashioned way of washing clothes. Communication was largely basic: AM/FM radio, newspapers, and word-of-mouth. Many had use of their cell phones, but FEMA commandeered cell phone satellites for a short time and many lost their signals periodically during the week. It was easier to text than to make phone calls, so the old methods of news was still the most reliable. Some were fortunate to have battery-powered portable analog TVs, but I personally never encountered anyone who owned one. People were generally calm and orderly when forced to wait in lines for basics, but there were a few who could have used a few lessons in proper conduct.

Yet amid our recovery, I noticed something happening around me. I saw people actually talking to each other rather than being absorbed in the daily activities that require electricity, such as TV and video games. I saw young and old sitting on porches and decks together playing cards and conversing while illuminated by lanterns and candlelight. Families prepared their meals together without the distraction of modern technology. One could smell the aromas of meat cooking over gas and charcoal grills at neighboring homes. Nights were eerily quiet save for the whispered conversations from surrounding homes going on around me. I found myself daily mesmerised by a swarm of hummingbirds hungrily feeding on the sugar water that my family put out for them. They weathered the storm well and returned to their usual habits once the storm had passed, while we humans were bemoaning the loss of "things" that we came to rely upon to maintain a comfortable lifestyle and expressing our anxiety for the return of our luxuries.

Modern technology does have its place in this world, but I think we've come to rely too heavily on these conveniences, to the point that we forget how to really live until we are forced to endure some sort of disaster that requires us to return to the old ways.