My name is Ben Carroll and I am a 1L at Roger Williams Law. I'm just a good 'ol southern boy from Knoxville, TN who has made his way to Rhode Island. I've got it all…The Southern accent; the hospitality. I even play the Banjo! I attended Tennessee Wesleyan, a small liberal arts college in Athens...
Unless, you live in a cave (like myself) New England was recently hit by two natural disasters. First, an earthquake; then, a hurricane…is the world coming to an end? Could this be the beginning of the end of the world that the Mayan calendar predicts in December 2012?
Probably not…
I can say, however, if the world does end I have some first-hand experience of what it will be like after going 4 days without power. Let me just give a quick summary:
1) Lights.
Lights illuminate my world; give me the ability to read at night; allow me to see where the tables and chairs that always seem to double in size when you can’t see anything; gives the kind of ambience and “insanity”/”chaotic” environment that makes Pink Floyd songs…well…Pink Floyd songs! Light makes the universe go “tick-tock…tick-tock.” It’s everything! I didn’t have it for 4 DAYS!
OH…BUT THAT’S NOT ALL!
2) Internet.
Internet…a law student’s best friend…the internet hosts one of my best pals. Her name is “Google”, and I depend on her for important things like YouTube, Facebook, and Amazon; you know, things of a non-academic nature.
3) Food.
So…4 days without power means a person would be the wiser if they simply threw out the perishables after Day 1. This means no food at home and if the power is out everywhere it seems to reason that everyone would do the same thing. They did!
I came up to New England for law school and since moving here I’ve weathered an earthquake and a hurricane. In fact, speaking of Law School, that reminds me of another hurricane…
Hurricane “Roger” has just been downgraded to a “Category 2.” That’s down from the “Category 5” it had been just days ago. Running…constantly living in fear of my life; Ok, maybe I am being a little extreme. I do, however, find solace in the people who chose to stick it through to the end!
“We can do this!”
That being said, it is important to note a few unique characteristics of Roger:
First, Roger does not follow a storm path as most Hurricanes do. Instead, the storm blows nowhere…it just sits…getting stronger and weaker (mostly stronger though…up-down-up-down-up-up-UP-down) I live in this storm!
Alas…
…Week 4 has reached the end, and all I can say is “WOAH!” (Add-in “Bill and Ted” California Surfer Dude) Nonetheless, I’m sitting here feeling pretty “dern” good. (As A.H. Zehmer would say, who lost his farm because he signed a napkin…there’s more to it though)
Updates will continue! Take cover…God Speed!
Ben Carroll – Class of 2014