By Debra McCown
Reporter / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: December 12, 2009

Somewhere in Washington County is a guy in a big yellow truck who thinks I’m crazy.
I was so overjoyed when the power came back on today, I got my daughter to make a thank-you card for the guys from the power company who restored our electricity after two days in the cold and dark.
As they prepared to leave, I ran out with her in my arms to deliver it. First I ran up to the window of the Appalachian Power truck, but he pointed to the guy in the Pike Electric truck, so we gave it to him. He didn’t say anything.
I’m sure he said it after we went back in the house: that woman is certifiable.
But I’ll tell you what – after a freezing cold shower by candlelight in a freezing cold house, and having to make my sick baby girl stay in bed until I could get the place warmed up with a propane heater, having no means to bake the thawed food in my freezer and – drama of all dramas – no Dora the Explorer – I literally jumped for joy the moment I saw a power company truck outside.
It was a reminder of all the things we take for granted – and a reminder, in this season of power-rate increases, just how valuable it is to have electricity.
I bet these guys are wary of disgruntled customers. And I bet they’ve been hearing an earful since Wednesday, when nature launched an all-out assault on the trees and electric poles in this area.
So I hope my happy over-reaction brightened their day a little bit – even if they do think I was nuts.