Saturday, lightning struck our street. We were luckier than some on our street; we only lost our modem. The folks down about a half mile had fire spewing out of their electrical outlets.
In between is my mom’s little house. She lost her modem, her satellite TV, AND, her adding machine exploded while she was working with it.
We called our local phone company that afternoon. “Yep,” they said. “Your modem is shot. Can’t mail you out one until Monday though.”
(I have paraphrased and summarized as you might imagine. I was on the phone for over an hour.)
“My husband and I both work online,” I explained calmly. “Will it get here by Tuesday?”
“That’s the soonest. We’re sorry.”
Now, I’m not totally certain they actually said “I’m sorry.” But that was the general tone of the phone call.
All so civilized.
I generally write my blog, or at least make certain it’s ready to go on Sunday afternoon. Not to worry, I told myself. I’ve written one up on a Tuesday night before. I’ve been writing under deadline since high school.
And I dug in my garden Sunday afternoon instead.
Here it is Tuesday night. I’m on my tiny little 6s phone, typing with one finger. This will not be a long post. They tell me our new modem will ship out tonight.
There’s much to write about this week and I’ve not written any of it. Perhaps that’s for the best. Perhaps the best thing I can do, any of us white folks can do, is to stop talking, stop explaining what’s going on And just listen.
I’ll be back next week with what I heard.
How about you? What are you hearing this week?
Tim Fearnside
I believe there’s wisdom in your approach, Janet. I’ve been quiet, not knowing what to say or whether it’s my place to say it. A friend posted this quote on social media, which resonated with me: “White progressives can be the most difficult for people of color because, to the degree that we think we have arrived, we will put out energy into making sure that others see us as having arrived…White progressives do indeed uphold and perpetrate racism, but our defensiveness and certitude make it virtually impossible to explain to us how we do so.” – from “White Fragility” by Robin J. DiAngelo. I do sense a good bit of this going on — people (many who are white progressive-minded and well-intentioned people) coming out guns blazing, so to speak. Yet, I didn’t see many speaking out with force or urgency (or, in many cases, at all) about systemic racism, police brutality, etc., before these most recent events. It feels as though many have been “awakened,” which in itself is good, yet are also now making sure others see that they have “arrived.” It makes me . . . uncomfortable in a way, and at a bit of a loss as to how to effectively and genuinely add my voice and support. More listening, reading, and self-reflection is perhaps the order of the day for me right now.
Janet Givens
I learned a lot from Robin DiAngelo when I did that earlier series on talking about race, Tim. She’s great. It’s the age old idea of wanting/needing to “be right,” to know, to stand firm in our convictions. That allows no room for new ideas, growth, et al. And it can be exhausting. How much easier it is to hang on tight to what we already “know.” Somehow “humility” feels like it’s involved. Thanks for starting us off; you always keep me thinking.
Janet Givens recently posted…See you next week
Micah
Sorry about the accident. Hoping that it all goes back to normal soon!
Janet Givens
Given all that is going on in my country at the moment, I’m not sure I want to go back to “normal,” Micah. But hello, and welcome.
Janet Givens recently posted…See you next week
Marian Beaman
Oh, so, so sorry! World news is bad enough, now this.
We’ve lived long enough to know we’ll get through this, but still it’s upsetting. This week I’ve been tussling with finding a new provider for my eye treatments.
Hang in there. Maybe a bubble bath is in order. It worked in Kazakhstan – right?
Marian Beaman recently posted…Comment on Secrets from the Game Girl Vault by Jill Weatherholt
Janet Givens
The world is waking up, or maybe I am, Marian, and I’m becoming more impatient. Have we all been accepting of the status quo or complacent — another of those “free will vs. fate” kind of discussions of long ago. I’m thinking it’s time we all considered what we’d be willing to give up to guarantee justice in our communities. Just how important is it to us?
Janet Givens recently posted…See you next week
Merril D. Smith
We depend so much on our technology. It really is a problem when we don’t have it. At least you can still use your iPhone for some things.
We lost power for about an hour last week in the afternoon, and then later that night we had a tornado warning during a different thunderstorm. Our daughter lost power during that one, as she was huddled in her hallway with her pets.
I hope your modem arrives soon and you have no problems with it.
I agree that listening and educating ourselves at this time may be the best thing.
Merril D. Smith recently posted…Imperturbable
Janet Givens
What’s really bizarre, Merril, is our WiFi came back on its own this afternoon around 2 pm and the new modem didn’t arrive until after 4 today. In fact, we haven’t even installed the new modem yet. But here I am on WiFi on my computer. I’ve talked to two computer/internet gurus and neither could explain it. I’m just accepting it is what it is. This “is” is a good one.
Janet Givens recently posted…See you next week
Darlene Foster
Sorry to hear this. I do hope you get the modem soon and everything is back in order. Listening is a good thing right now. See you next week!!
Darlene Foster recently posted…Art and Travel Memories
Janet Givens
I need to sit still long enough to listen, to read, to absorb. What’s that old buddhist adage? Something like, “I sit each day for 20 minutes, unless I’m really busy. Then I sit for an hour.” Thanks for popping by. Did you see my reply to Merril? It’s a mystery this Internet stuff.
Janet Givens recently posted…See you next week
Darlene Foster
Oh my! This is a mystery!! Oh well, now you have a spare should you need it later on.
Laurie Buchanan
Janet — I’m sorry for what happened. I like your plan. “…And just listen.”
Janet Givens
Thank you Laurie.
Janet Givens recently posted…See you next week
Ally Bean
I’m sorry your modem had a breakdown. Poor thing, under so much stress to do its thing. Kind of like all of us, doing our best, trying not to break down. Hope your new modem is all that, and a bag of chips!
Ally Bean recently posted…A Small Adventure In An Old Cemetery, Because My Curiosity Must Be Satisfied
Janet Givens
I just wrote Merril how the modem has spontaneously come back to life again — about two hours BEFORE the new modem arrived at the door. Ah sweet mystery of life, has taken on a whole new meaning. Now I must find myself a bag of chips, thank you very much.
Janet Givens recently posted…See you next week
Joan
So sorry for your loss of modem, etc. Weather is the frequent curse of our technologically driven life. I fear that one day the whole system will go down and then where will we be?
Here is Virginia we often have severe storms, though not yet this year. We live in a town house of 4 floors and depend on our elevator most of the time to take us from one floor to another. We practice using the stairs daily as a result so we won’t forget to use them.
Hope everything will be back in order for you post haste.
Janet Givens
Wow, dependent upon electricity for you elevator. Woody and I have recently begun to research this idea of the electrical grid going down and thinking just how this would affect us. An interesting exercise I hope we never have to put to use. Nice to see you hear Joan.
Janet Givens recently posted…See you next week
Bette Stevens
Yikes! Hope all is back to normal…
Janet Givens
“normal.” A word we once took for granted, hmmmm? Thanks, Bette.
Janet Givens recently posted…See you next week
Janet Givens
Good evening all. Thank you for your good words of kindness and support. Turns out I cannot Reply to your Comments on my phone. Fingers crossed the modem that was expected yesterday will arrive tomorrow.
Janet Givens recently posted…See you next week
Janet Morrison
What a hassle to have to deal with! Glad you weren’t injured — and I trust your no the wasn’t either when her adding machine exploded! I hope your new modem has arrived by now so you can get back online.
Janet Givens
Hi Janet. My mom was not only not injured, she told me yesterday that her adding machine works again. She thought it “exploded” because a big flash of light burst out of it when the thunder rolled. She stopped using it. And, you’ve heard my modem began working again this afternoon — before our new one had arrived? Strange happenings up here in the kingdom.
Janet Givens recently posted…See you next week