2025 came in with a bang for many Texarkana residents.
I don’t think anyone in the ArklaTex was prepared for a 48-hour power outage on January 24. Least of all me!
I was in an electrically powered recliner that was spread out totally! Guess what? It didn’t go down without power. Getting my 82-year-old body maneuvered around to roll out of my chair was tough! I’m glad there were no battery-powered cameras around! It would have gone viral on YouTube. There may be a chair battery backup, but I never dreamed this would happen! I missed that Girl Scout preparedness class!
It reminded me of the 2000 ice storm when electricity was out everywhere for nine days to three weeks. The entire city was blacked out, and there was no power, gasoline, or food available from stores with no power for several miles. It was scarier than the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many homes are all-electric; even with a gas heating unit, electricity is needed to blow the fans. We had nothing except a small butane camp stove to keep warm and make hot water! It was an experience, but it got old quickly.
We corrected the no-heat problem and purchased a gas-powered fake log fireplace to be prepared for another outage. But guess what? Gas will not power a cell phone, which is a significant necessity today. We are happy that Edison’s invention of electricity gave us a light switch to shed light on the subject! So, the question: Could no one drive their all-electric vehicles?
With this bad news behind us, things are looking up for our area. There are a lot of community events scheduled, and I hope you are involved in some of them.
A friend from my Tai Chi Class invited me to the Symphony with a guest pianist. I am so glad I went. If you have not experienced the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Phillip Mann, you are missing a treat. He is brilliant, the orchestra was the best I have heard, and the dynamics of the instruments were amazing. We are fortunate to have such excellent talent in our town.
The year started with a bang, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of 2025 will bring, as the days are clicking off quickly. We are already in March; before we know it, Christmas will be here.
Stay safe, keep a smile on your face, and make our world a better place.
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