When the Lights Went Out, I Defied the Urge to Hoard

How a nationwide blackout exposed the basic instincts we hide behind convenience

Still image from “The Carrington Event” taken by the author | Source:

Last week, the power went out without warning across the Iberian Peninsula, and with it all the little things we take for granted.

At first, I wasn’t too worried. We have outages all the time where I live. Whenever there’s a storm, the lights flicker, and I know it’s a matter of time before we’re in the dark.

What got to me was realizing everything was down. I had never been cut off from phones, the internet, or cell service before.

I didn’t even have a working radio at home. If it wasn’t for my car radio, I would have no idea of what was happening.

Believe me when I say it, there’s nothing worse than losing the ability to reach out to those you love when the world goes dark.

I couldn’t call my mother. So I got in my car and rushed to her house while listening to the radio.

When I got there, I found her calm, tending to the flowers

She seemed surprised to see me.

I asked if she knew the power was out, but she didn’t think much of it.