When you think of Tri-County Action Program, what image comes to mind – a community based group of people who act as a conduit for state and federal helps programs for low or moderate income families? This in part is true, but we are also here to be a resource to all of the people in our community. In reality, we are often neighbors helping neighbors – people sharing resources and exchanging ideas. There is a two-way street when we work with people – they bless us with good ideas and great stories as we in turn work our programs on behalf of their family. Let me share one of my favorite client stories, one of about a dozen tales that I will never forget.
I once visited a farmhouse by a creek-fed duck slough, with a long, winding drive flanked by overhanging trees. I passed a weather-worn farmhouse with all the windows gone, looking like the rock of ages stationed a-top a knoll. Then the drive meandered downhill to the “new” house, built in 1920. The elderly lady of the house was a born story-teller, and I settled in for a most enjoyable afternoon visit. Here’s the yarn that she spun: “When I was but a girl, our great Aunt lived with us up at the old house. She was an independent soul and way ahead of her time. As a young woman she had traveled the world over as a Red-Cross nurse. Family legend held that she had amassed a small fortune in precious gemstones, gifts from ardent admirers from her travels in Africa and the Middle East. You see, she was a rare beauty in her younger years. The story goes that she had a hand carved chest of gopher wood that held her treasure and that it was hidden away somewhere in the attic.
“One stormy, dark night, I asked Aunt Louisa about her treasure. At first she laughed and laughed, but then she became quite serious and said, ‘If I were you, I would never enter that attic. There may be those that guard the secrets of the night!’
“Well, Auntie finally died at the age of 102; our family built the new house and the old house was abandoned, but not forgotten. Time passed – I grew older and inherited the family farm. One day I decided to face my childhood fears. I ascended the hill and pulled the boards off the old front door. With a ladder in one hand and a flashlight in the other, I began my fated rendezvous with the second floor attic. I cannot say how fast my heart was beating as I pushed open the lid to the scuttle hole. I could hear rustling sounds above me, wings fluttering and the high-pitched squeaks of unknown creatures. I shined the light straight above me, catching the unmistakable blur of air-born bats. I waited till none could be seen, steeled my resolve and climbed two rungs higher to peer into the blackness. I swung the flashlight around in an arc, suddenly stopping as the beam of light fell upon IT, right there in front of me, staring at me! I dropped the flashlight, but could still see the pale white face looming out of the darkness. I scrambled down the ladder, regained the flashlight and my courage, and once again climbed . . . step by step. Trembling, I focused the light on the dreadful image. It was the death mask of an Egyptian Queen – one of those precious gifts imparted to my lovely Aunt Louisa. I heard other rustlings in that attic – from creatures much larger than a bat, and I quickly closed the lid – and it remains closed to this day! I never again pursued any desire to look for Auntie’s treasure – some things are just meant to be left to family legend.”
And with that, my client ended her tale. If you would like to hear more client stories in future Tri-CAP blogs, let me know.
PS. Stories are shared by permission only.
Energy tips for June:
If you have more than one fridge or chest freezer, turn them off! Each fridge can cost up to $165 per year in electricity; each chest freezer can cost $126 per year to run. If you have an old fridge or freezer – replace them. A new fridge saves $96 per year; a new freezer saves $66 per year. Many of the local electrical providers have appliance programs to replace an old refrigerator or chest freezer for free to income qualified clients – and they will recycle your old unit.
June 2016 Blog by Stephen Bjorklund, Home Energy Advisor
