Hurrah for Outages!

by Frank Harper, Tofino
from the files of the Sound Magazine. October 5, 1990

Power outages are here
to stay, as long as we use electricity. They are part of the fabric of our lives.

Beyond that, power outages can be fun. There inevitably comes that warm, communal feeling that we're all in the same boat. The elemental lighting of a candle -- the flame of primitive beginnings -- keeps one in touch with the source of civilization. The sudden absince of fluorescent lights in some of our noble institutions like the Co-Op or the schoolhouse is enough to rest the eyes, the brains. Citizens go around town saying they'll do such-and-such when the power comes back on. It's a good chance to rest or to let things slide. Power outages slow us down, allowing us to mellow a bit, and that can only be an advantage.

When the power goes out, you actually get more personal power. That is, you get to be -- for another short while -- more in control of your own life. You don't have to rely on teevee, light bulbs, computers or the dry, congesting air from baseboard heaters for awhile. You can discover that there are ways to entertain yourself or that you can cozy up again with your family.

So hurrah for the outages. We'd get fried without them.

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Frank has been recording Tofino's ins and outs since before most of us knew of its existence.