Cold comfort

In what seems like an eternity ago (but only about 80 hours hours), I wrote: "it'll be a surprise if we don't lose power." Boy, was that ever an understatement!

Storms with high winds are not unusual this time of year, but most of the we don't lose power for long, if at all. This one, as you've seen in the news, was a completely different matter and it appears that St. Bartholomew's was right in one of the heaviest hit areas.

Trees came down everywhere (except St. Bartholomew's!) Thursday night. Power went out through much of the region, and remains out even now. (Power came on at the office yesterday, but won't reach my house for days yet.)

So things were a little bit chill and dark in the church for Derek's funeral Saturday. It was also slow going to the cemetery because all the traffic lights were out. (And I confess I felt a little uneasy there when a slight wind came up and threatened to blow a flower arrangement over.)

And it was even chillier this morning; when Deacon Ed was reading the Gospel I could see his breath. A few brave souls dodged the wires and downed trees to atten Mass, knowing it was going to be cold and dark. But at least it was noticeably warmer downstairs in the Parish Hall, and the presence of a campstove to heat hot water for coffee and tea improved matters further.

Some pictures of the damage just a few miles from St. Bartholomew's are posted online here.