Noir Blackout

Every day is a unique event. As we journey through life, certain memories grow brighter than others. While the routine of turning off lights is a shared experience for us all, when they decide to go out on their own, the day takes on a new dimension. I’d like to think a dash of mystique is added when looking back with a Noir filter.

My regular day:

At the end of a long, tiring workweek, I looked forward to some well-earned downtime. Unfortunately, the journey back home had the additional challenge of dealing with more roadwork with congestion growing worse at every turn. As I reached the halfway point, the streetlights went black. In an ideal world, this should have led cars to cross one-at-a-time at intersections. Instead, it transformed each crossroad into high-stakes races, with some cars roaring through while others seemed frozen. Honking filled the air, and when it was finally my turn, I made my way through with other drivers joining my timed crossing.

Finally reaching home, my beautiful gal confirmed that the power was out and suggested a night of dinner on our trusty grill. We set up by the patio with a view of pool under the open sky. As dinner sizzled away, I seized the opportunity to go into the house and change out of my work clothes, grateful for the fading light.

The power outage also set off a flurry of calls from friends, all battling worsening traffic conditions and asking to stop by while traffic died down. As friends arrived, more help came for grilling and a warm pit fire was soon crackling. I smiled as illuminated phones revealed familiar faces around the patio. Flashlights became our companions for kitchen and bathroom visits, and it was becoming clear that the power would be out for some time.

All things considered, we handled the situation well. The night was cool, and conversation flowed freely, from swapping tales of traffic woes to several contemplating an impromptu sleepover. I was walking through our familiar backyard when my gal told me to keep an eye out for the pool and asked if I was ready to eat. I looked up, seeing the pool and turned, telling her I would wait a bit, not wanting to navigate with a plate of food. I felt confident, familiar with every corner of the yard.

However, a moment later, as I looked to the screen of my phone, I suddenly felt a fluttering sensation in my stomach. The world went silent and in the dark, I watched as my phone slipped from my grasp and rose above my hand. As the cold water finally registered, a muffled breath escaped me and I watched bubbles rush away from my mouth. I lost my sense of direction and struggled to retrieve my phone before frantically searching for the surface. I’ve always had a knack for holding my breath for a long time, but at this moment, I found myself gasping for air. As I fought to regain my composure, hands reached out, pulling me to safety. Through raspy breaths, I managed to say that my phone was still in the pool before fits of coughing took over.

Those who had been close, either thought I had jumped into the pool or tripped and fell, hitting my head on the way down. Neither was the case. I had turned at an angle instead of walking alongside the pool. I could have hit my head if I had taken two more steps but instead, walked into the black proving once again how important it is to listen to my gal. The taste and smell of chlorine remained for a while, and as I overcame my embarrassment, I changed for a second time.

As I enjoyed a much-needed dinner, I gradually reclaimed my body heat, and with familiar faces gathered together, the chilly night felt warmer. Although the events of that day remain with me like a vivid dream, we were all grateful when power was restored in the days that followed and I was happy to have my phone replaced. As with all challenges in life, when we keep friends and family close, darkness is easier to dispel.

Onwards! +

My Noir Day:

At the end of an agonizing, soul-sapping workweek, I craved a taste of solace. But fate is never on my side; the journey back to my sanctum came with an extra dash of misery as the roadworks threw hurdles at my path and the congestion grew into an insurmountable beast. Midway home, the streetlights blinked out, plunging the thoroughfares into darkness. In an ideal world, this would have signaled a calm and orderly procession at intersections, but in this city’s underbelly, it was a starting gun for reckless races. Some vehicles darted ahead with wild abandon, while others seemed paralyzed, frozen in fear. The night air reverberated with the symphony of enraged horns. Finally, it was my turn, and I ventured forth, joined by fellow daredevils in this maddening race.

Home, at last. My dame confirmed what I had feared - the power was out, an electrical blackout in our neon-lit town. She proposed a dinner by the trusty grill out back. We set up near the patio, the shimmering pool and the open, star-studded sky as our witnesses. While dinner sizzled over open flames, I sneaked inside, peeling off my weary work attire, shedding the skin of the day, and embracing the shadows that enveloped our home.

The power outage set in motion a cavalcade of calls, friends battling the tumultuous traffic, seeking sanctuary until the chaotic streets could find peace. Soon, comrades gathered around the flaming grill, lending their helping hands. The fiery heart of the grill was accompanied by the warm crackle of a pit fire and I grinned beneath the dimly glowing screens of our phones recognizing the faces of my compadres. Flashlights guided our way in and out of the kitchen, through the labyrinthine corridors of the house. It became evident that this night would be ruled by shadows.

All things considered, we adapted well to the change. The night was gentle, conversation flowed smoothly filled with tales of traffic woes mingled with thoughts of an impromptu sleepover. I wandered the familiar expanse of our backyard, the black canvas occasionally lit by mobile phone screens. My dame beckoned me to be mindful of the pool and inquired about my readiness for dinner. I glanced toward the watery abyss, assured her I’d wait a tad longer, not wanting to risk a hazardous journey with a plate full of grub. My confidence, you see, had always been in knowing every nook and cranny of our terrain.

However, this story takes a darker turn. With my gaze fixed on the screen of my phone, an unsettling fluttering wriggled in my gut. The world plunged into silence as the device slipped through my fingers, ascending to a darkened realm above. When the frigid waters finally registered to my senses, a muffled gasp escaped my lips. I watched as bubbles raced upwards, away from me. I was disoriented, lacking a North Star to guide me. Struggling to reclaim my phone, I thrashed in a panic, clawing for the surface. My lung’s plea for air fell upon the deaf ears. Hands reached out from the darkness and plucked me from the watery abyss. Gasping for air, I croaked a comment about my phone before I succumbed to coughing.

For those in proximity, my fall was masked in a shroud of uncertainty. Some thought it was a reckless leap into the pool, while others assumed a misstep had resulted in an accidental head-butt with the abyss. Neither theory held true. I had simply wandered off the beaten path. A momentary lapse in judgment, one small turn in the wrong direction and I was knee-deep in my own inky peril. Such is life when I don’t heed my dame’s warnings. The taste of chlorine lingered long after the embarrassment had subsided and I changed into dry attire for the second time that night.

As I savored the much-needed grub, my body slowly thawed from the chilly waters. With my comrades gathered around, the cold night adopted a veneer of warmth. The day’s events, etched in my mind like a haunting dream, left an indelible mark. But the city’s concrete heart eventually found its pulse, and power flowed back into our lives. My phone was resurrected, and, with the challenges of the night fading like mist at dawn, we basked in the light of unity and friendship. When darkness descends, the glow of companionship shines all the brighter.

Onwards! +