The second I heard the howling winds outside, I suspected the power was about to go out.

There are many trees around local power lines, and wind often leaves us in the dark.

I finished a blog post and started to turn off the computer when the lights flickered and the power went out.

It was 8 p.m. when it went out, and it came back on again around 1:16 a.m.When this happens,

Maria and I sat in the darkness as we usually ns, light some candles, talk, read by flashlight or candlelight, or doze.

We didn’t use our generator because the electric company said the power would be back on in two hours.

It turned out to be eight hours, but no matter, Maria was asleep, and I was in bed staring at the ceiling.

I couldn’t sleep until the lights came on, and I got my sleep apnea mask on.

I couldn’t sleep then either.

The cable was out also, but everything is working well now. And it’s a beautiful day. As we went up to the bed, Maria, who had been lying down on the couch with Bud in her lap, showed me the notebook.

She had been sketching our living room. She called the sketch “The Truth About Our Living Room.”

I knew better than to ask what that meant—life with an artist.

I’m starting to think we may not use our generator until next year. If you’re superstitious, I just jinked it. But I’m not.