Oct. 17--I've grown up in a generation that's had it pretty cushy. My grandparents would say I'm soft.

My days are spent indoors at a computer, not outside doing hard labor. I have most of the modern-day conveniences.

If I need to go somewhere, I can jump in my car.

If I need to talk to someone, I can dial them up anytime, anywhere on a cell phone.

I have a laptop computer that allows me to do my job from pretty much anywhere.

If I'm bored, I can turn on the television for some instant entertainment.

Need a meal in a hurry? Zap it in the microwave.

I could hop on a plane and be halfway around the world in a few hours.

It's all pretty amazing if you think about it.

I've never had to sew my own clothes, grow everything I eat or live without indoor plumbing. I shudder at the thought.

I did recently, however, have to spend a little time without electricity when a storm rolled through town.

I woke up in the middle of the night to find my world had lost its buzz. It's amazing how you don't realize the humming sound all those electricity-sucking devices make until they're cut off.

I looked up. The ceiling fan was still. I looked over at my alarm clock. The display was black.

I wasn't that worried. It was the middle of the night. I was supposed to be sleeping. I figured it would be on by morning.

When I rolled out of bed, no such luck.

I thought I'd make something for breakfast while I waited. That's when I realized everything in my house needs electricity to work.

Stove, water heater, everything.

It struck me then that a completely electric house might not be that great of an idea.

I found myself reaching for things that required electricity throughout the day. Every time I walked into a room, I'd flip the light switch without even thinking.

By nightfall, I was getting desperate, and then the lights came back on. I had spent about 18 hours without electricity. It seemed much longer.

It wasn't the first time I'd gone without electricity in my life, and I'm sure it won't be the last. Storms tend to roll through this state pretty often.

It did make me appreciate the things that I tend to take for granted. It hasn't always been this easy, as my grandmother would say.

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