The power's out. So are the kids.
Winemakers across Napa Valley are rightfully frazzled this week. Once again, they have found themselves in the midst of a harvest that demands problem-solving beyond the typical challenges of winemaking. “How’s your cabernet coming in?” has suddenly taken a back seat to, “Do you have a generator?” Wineries cannot process their fruit, control the temperature of giant fermenters, or maintain meticulously cooled barrel rooms without a significant draw on the power grid. Yes, the ancient Greeks made wine before the invention of the light bulb- but they also used things like pine resin and goat skins to cart it around. Some wineries have called off their picks altogether, until they can get enough power restored to run their pumps. The combined consternation of the valley’s finest winemakers, however, pales in comparison to the other problem-scourged cohort in town: parents.
Smack in the middle of the week, with little more than a few hours notice, all the schools in Napa valley declared a minimum of two-day’s closure due to planned power outages. And so the children of Napa valley were thrust back into their families’ care for two days without any promise of lights, or WiFi, or even a way to cook frozen pizza. The middle schoolers I saw bounding out of class on Tuesday afternoon clearly had not considered that their PlayStations do not run on solar power. But parents, who just the morning before expected this to be a normal work week, quickly did the math. It’s a funny case of survival thinking: no childcare, no internet, and perfect fall weather. Allowing for the sticky situations of work that can’t be put off or food that might spoil, I have to ask: Is it okay to enjoy this a little?
My kids and I spent all day yesterday feeling like it was summertime. We played in a creek for hours, rode bikes, and caught a frog. We didn’t hurry once. The day was part adventure, part mindset- neither of which demand a power outage. But in October, days that aren’t dedicated to work and school usually go the way of meal preps and laundry. It’s the rhythm most families adopt when one or both parents are knee-deep in grape skins for two months; someone has to keep the kids fed and tend to all those fermenting work jeans. Having two solid days off in what is arguably Napa’s most beautiful time of the year ain’t so bad.
Our downtown library is clearly none the worse. “Come by to charge your phone,” quipped their social media post yesterday, “use the WiFi and pick up books (no batteries required).” It’s the first time I’ve had to go around the block twice just so I could at a place downtown that doesn’t serve chardonnay. Inside, people sat clustered around power outlets charging their phones and sending emails. The children’s area was full of bouncing toddlers and other small humans, making good use of the miniature couches and open reading areas. Adults in the room crawled on the floor after their little ones or leaned in close to detail the excursions of hungry caterpillars and wild cheetahs. The army of librarians who staffed the children zone were darting back and forth like cocktail waitresses. They were beaming.
Caravans of strollers and scooters have also been parading by my house on the way to the park. Parents, no doubt, are opting to go to a playground to prevent going crazy. Some families have left town to visit grandma, others have decided to pretend they’re camping in their own homes. One of the bolder families I know decided it was a good time to take the kids surfing midweek. No batteries required.
PG&E has already announced that they’ll start to inspect lines and restore power to the many homes and businesses that have been dark for two days. Of course we’ll be relieved to resume business as usual, when that time comes. (Winemakers especially!) In a time of year, however, that is synonymous with hustle in my family, the kids and I have met two surprise days with an empty schedule and a full heart. With the loss of electricity, we got a little recharge.
