Well, folks, Mississippi's having a bit of a moment. A dark moment, you might say. A very, very still and quiet moment. Why? Power outages. And not just a little flicker-and-it's-back kind of outage. We're talking widespread. Across the state. Big swaths of darkness. And the culprit? Those pesky severe storms. Mother Nature, you minx!
Lights Out: A Mississippi Story
Now, I know what you're thinking. Storms happen. Power goes out. It's the circle of life, right? (cue *The Lion King* soundtrack). But here's my unpopular opinion: Maybe, just maybe, we're all a little *too* reliant on electricity these days. I said it! Come at me!
I mean, remember when a power outage meant pulling out the board games? Dusting off the old Scrabble set? Telling spooky stories by candlelight? Now it's all frantic phone charging, existential dread about the Wi-Fi, and the desperate search for a gas station that's still pumping fuel. I miss the simplicity!
Look, I'm not saying I want to go back to churning butter and fetching water from the well. But a little forced unplugging? It’s not the end of the world. Okay, maybe it feels like the end of the world when your phone's at 1%, but still...
"The irony of complaining about a lack of Wi-Fi while surrounded by nature's raw power is not lost on me." - A Possibly Delusional Mississippian
And speaking of nature's raw power, these storms, whew! They packed a punch. Wind howling like a pack of wild dogs, rain coming down in sheets thick enough to hide a small car. You know, the kind of weather that makes you want to curl up with a good book and a steaming mug of something hot. Provided, of course, you have a way to heat that something hot. (Back to the electricity problem!).
Finding the Funny in the Flicker
But even in the midst of statewide darkness, Mississippians have a way of finding the funny. I've seen more memes about ice cream melting and refrigerators becoming glorified coolers in the past 24 hours than I care to admit. And the collective groan when someone asks, "Anyone know when the power's coming back on?" is almost audible across the state.
My aunt Mildred, bless her heart, is convinced this is a government conspiracy to force everyone to buy more candles. She's also pretty sure squirrels are involved somehow. Don't ask.
Seriously though, while the power companies are working hard (and I appreciate them, I really do!), maybe this is a good time for us all to reassess our relationship with technology. Learn a new skill. Tell an old story. Maybe even, dare I say, talk to each other! Gasp!
Instead of doom-scrolling through social media (on your dwindling battery life), why not learn how to make shadow puppets? Or finally figure out that complicated knot your grandfather tried to teach you? Or, and this is a radical idea, just sit in the quiet and listen to the sound of the rain (assuming it hasn't stopped, of course).
Okay, okay, I get it. I'm being idealistic. But hey, a little darkness can make you see things in a new light (pun intended). So, hang in there, Mississippi. The power will come back on eventually. And when it does, we can all go back to binge-watching Netflix and complaining about how slow the internet is. But for now? Let's embrace the temporary unplugging. Embrace the darkness. Embrace the fact that you might actually have to talk to your family face-to-face. (Just kidding... mostly).
And remember, if you see Aunt Mildred chasing squirrels with a candle, just smile and wave. She's doing her part to keep things interesting.
