Editorial:

There we were, sitting in our homes without electricity and bemoaning our state. What would we do without television? How could we style our hair without a blow dryer. Did we still remember how to brush our teeth with a hand-powered toothbrush, and could we survive without the internet, email and facebook?

Those were the burning questions thousands of Long Islanders along the South Shore faced this weekend. For many, these were trying questions. One surprise storm had packed a mighty wallop and had pushed us out of our comfort zones and into a world powered by candlelight, a kerosene stove (if we were lucky), and a battery-operated radio for survival. What were we ever going to do?

In the midst of it all, tempers became short and the lack of options made our energy-demanding daily lives pretty miserable. The water was cold, the soda was warm and the likelihood of setting the world straight any time soon was pretty far off, at least according to LIPA reports and news accounts.

Then we looked out the window. Down the street, a huge pine tree had ripped through the roof of one of our neighbor’s homes. Police and firefighters were there to provide emergency assistance. LIPA was there to secure the electrical lines and create a safe pathway for vehicles in the street. Highway workers were busy cutting the tree in half, and then in half again to prepare it to be carted away. All the while, a cold, icy rain fell upon them and they had to constantly brace themselves against the powerful winds.

Just how unfortunate were we to be in our homes, despite a little chill? We were dry, quenched, safe, and while a little rag tag, we were all the better for people like those police and firefighters, highway workers and LIPA crews who braved the worst of it on our behalf.

To each of them, as well as the health-care workers and other emergency personnel who did their jobs despite the storm this weekend, we raise our hats and our hearts and say, “thank you.” The lack of a hot shower doesn’t seem to be much of a sacrifice when held up against what you endured.

The Massapequa Post newspaper invites readers to present their views, ideas and issues. Please submit letters to the editor to us at 1045B Park Blvd, Massapequa Park NY 11762. Letters should be signed and include a daytime telephone number for verification purposes only. We do not accept personal thank you notes, political endorsements or anonymous letters, but will, under some circumstances withhold the name of a writer upon request.