Thank you, Semo Electric!

This is what I refer to as "the top of the lane" at my place--the view from my front porch--where the Semo Electric repair truck appeared out of the darkness early this morning at 1 a.m.

Here we go again!

Residents of North Stoddard County spent more quality family time in their closets, bathrooms, and basements last night, as storms swept across the area. This time, it was mostly hail (though I haven't ventured out to check on anything).

My power went out shortly after 9 p.m., just minutes after my daughter and her husband got in from Memphis. We barely had time to look at the wedding pictures before the storm hit and everything went black. Drag out the kerosene lantern and the candles...wait and see if the power comes back on...Nope? Okay, get out the emergency water supply.

My daughter, ever the resourceful one, dragged out the big stainless steel mixing bowls and went out to catch the water pouring out in a spout from the roof (yes, I've been neglecting to call the gutter man...).

Bedtime by flashlight. I don't sleep well in total darkness. I have night lights in every room. It took me HOURS to get to sleep, only to be awakened at 1 a.m. by the weather radio, screeching on the nightstand about how conditions were right for a tornado. Then it gave me the entire weather forecast for the week ahead! ARGGGG! By the time it got finished, I was so mad that I lay for HOURS, visualizing myself opening a window and hurling the weather radio out into the darkness. No storm ever materialized after 1 a.m., so I have no idea why the warning was so blasted necessary!

There was an up side to the warning, however. As I lay in bed, seething in anger, I saw lights reflecting in the bedroom--and, there, across the pond, was a Semo Electric truck. The crew was shining their big light along the lines like they do, when they're looking for problems.

Halleluya!!! I had called the automated trouble line shortly after nine, and here they were--at 1 a.m. in the middle of a stormy night, out fixing the lines!! I couldn't believe it! My daughter said the power was on at 3 a.m., when she woke up.

With the assurance that help was here, I finally managed to sleep until five, at which time I awoke to a blinking clock and the welcome light from my night lights.

Thank you, Semo Electric! You have been an important part of my life in this rural Southeast Missouri paradise for 35 years.

From the remote hills of Tillman, Mo., this is your very sleepy Advance reporter, hoping for a quiet weather day.