On top of the global pandemic, Portland, Oregon had months of protests & riots; 10 days of wildfires that gave us the planet’s worst air quality; and now this: snow and ice storms that wiped out power *and* cell service for a huge number of us. (Portland is under all the red.) 
Earlier, I was out walking the dog in the deep icy slush as an explosive melt kicked in: The sun broke through, and days of accumulated ice loosened, breaking off trees, shattering on the ground like porcelain , crystalline ice casting shard-shadows.
I spoke to many strangers, all out in the strangest conditions many of us had ever seen, marveling at what we saw. Many roads were blocked by branches and trees. I carried the dog over a downed power line. One man said, “I thought 2020 was bad. But here we are: apocalypse.”
Now, I must abandon this kluged solution for wifi and go dark again. Evening is coming. The house is ever colder: 30+ hrs since power. We have water & hot water & a working stovetop, lanterns and blankets and a 4WD vehicle. We are fine, and will be fine. Some probably are not.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
