Commentary by Frank Schroth

Irene came and went. But there is nothing like a severe weather system to promote community interaction.

Irene was present and accounted for in the early afternoon and that’s when the power went out for us. The wind began to howl (off and on) and the rain fell along with branches and trees.

Toward evening she began to calm down and people who had been without power and hence nothing to do (what? no television? no Internet? no blow dryer?) began wandering the streets.

One of the major topics of conversation was the governor. “We should get power back soon. The governor lives around the corner.”

“Yeah, but he is in Framingham at MEMEA headquarters.”

“No, he’s not. He’s in the Berkshires.”

“I hear the Berkshires got a ton of rain.”

“I saw the transformer on Eliot street blow. It started to fizzle and then, BAM! A fireball and everything.” (That explains the power)

“What is your supply of D batteries like?”

“Good grief, it looks like your having a seance in here.”

“Where’s that crank radio we got from L.L. Bean?”

As of this morning the power is back on but the sirens that were wailing throughout the day yesterday, can still be heard.

Life will be back to normal by rush hour and all the quiet walks through the neighborhood , talking with neighbors will be behind us. But it did leave an impression. As someone commented, “We should have a no electricity hour once a week.”