Power in the neighborhood
Sunday, August 1, 2010 at 6:14PM Four weeks ago, a Dominion Power worker trying to restore electricity to our street, fell from a pole in a ball of fire.
It was nearly midnight on one of those insufferably hot days and Eric Parker, who had been working atop the pole since 4 p.m., stayed after his shift ended in a special effort to get the power back on and the air-conditioners running again.
Some neighbors were just heading to bed. Others were still awake - reading, watching TV, squirming uncomfortably in their hot houses. Many, like me, fell asleep hours before.
A woman, who just that day moved with her family into a house two doors down from where Eric worked, heard him chattering and wondered when he'd finish.
Then, KAPOW! The sound of the transformer blowing startled neighbors up and down two streets. They looked out their windows, ran out their doors and saw flames hurtling over the trees, crazy high into the night sky.
Today, neighbors gathered in the back yard where the accident happened to raise money for Eric who, miraculously, survived. They recounted the night with the immediacy and intensity of trauma victims, nearly all of them haunted by the same detail: the screams.
"I'm on fire, I'm on fire," one neighbor said she heard Eric yell.
"Mayday! Mayday!" another said, recounting his partner's calls into the radio for help.
Others just remember the agonizing, wordless cries of a man consumed by flames.
"When you hear a grown man screaming like that..."
Hector shook his head, his voice trailed off and my arm crawled with goosebumps as he tried to explain.
Hector lives across the street from the house where the transformer blew and, by all accounts, he was one of two neighbors on the scene immediately. Within two seconds, he said. He heard the explosion, heard Eric yell, then raced from his house. His next-door neighbor, Rudy, flew out the front door at the same time.
By the time the two men reached Eric, he was on the ground, ablaze. They rolled him in the grass to stifle the flames and in the process, became covered in the chemicals that fill the transformer box. Hector's wife, Sylvia, got a lawn hose to spray Eric and douse the flames but his partner waved her off. The water would only intensify the heat from the chemicals. They stripped Eric of his clothes and watched as he walked in circles, pumped with adrenaline, probably fear and shock too.
Neighbors started to gather immediately, drawn from their houses by the terrible commotion, but Hector pushed them back from the yard, the fire and the live electrical wires.
One of those who came running to the yard was Linda, who owns the house where the electrical pole sits. At the time of the accident, she was two doors down visiting a friend. She too heard the pop, the screams... saw the flames and by the time she got to her house, she said Hector was already in charge: helping Eric, keeping neighbors safe and at bay.
I saw Linda, and her partner, Lynn, in the coffee shop early the next morning. They looked shell-shocked. Remarkably, I slept through the tumult. Kent told me about it when I woke - about the streets filled with emergency vehicles, power company trucks and neighbors. It all seemed so fantastical, so unreal, I couldn't get a handle on it until I saw the exhaustion and shock on Lynn and Linda's faces. They were stunned.
Eric suffered severe burns over much of his body, including his face, underwent surgery for skin grafts, injured his back in the fall, and spent two and a half weeks in the hospital. He returned home July 21 and while his prognosis is good, he still needs constant care.
We learned almost immediately that Eric is no stranger to misfortune. His wife died a year ago, and he also lost a daughter, according to one of his co-workers. He lives with his 9-year-old son. Still, in the face of such calamities, he was high-spirited, gracious and kind when Lynn and Linda met him in the hospital. They stopped by with care baskets of food and drinks one day and were quickly invited by Eric's family into his room. Linda still can't believe his optimism and spirit.
"I didn't think there were people like that," she said.
Their idea for a fundraising brunch wasn't just about collecting money for Eric, Lynn and Linda said. They wanted him to know the neighborhood thinks he's so much more than just a guy who got hurt trying to restore the power. He's a human.
I have friends who don't live here who joke that Del Ray seems like Mayberry, seems so impossibly idyllic that it reminds them of a movie set. I've written about what a special place it is before, but I'm telling you, the spirit in that yard yesterday was really quite moving.
Neighbors donated pricey teas, trinkets, artwork and sundry bits for a silent auction.
They filled tables with homemade breads, pies and delicacies...
and wrote thank-yous to Eric.
One neighbor who heard Eric is a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan, got box-seat tickets to an Eagles-Redskins game for him and his family, two personalized Eagles' jerseys and other paraphernalia.
The children decorated letters ...
to send a special message to Eric.
A message to let him know he's more than a Dominion Power worker to us. He's a man of indomitable, enviable spirit whom we love, thank and wish well. Godspeed, Eric.
If you want details on how to make a donation for Eric, please e-mail me at dana@feastafterfamine.com
Reader Comments (12)
You guys are awesome! This post really touched my heart. Beautiful. I'll keep Eric in my prayers.
beautifully captured Dana. I too am speechless. With tears in my eyes. Eric could not have been on a better street, in a better neighborhood. There isn't one anywhere in America, I'm sure.
Man, I love our hood!
Thank you for celebrating those workers whose job it is to make our lives easier and safer. Rarely do they get the appreciation and support they deserve.
Great job Dana this is awesome, Beautiful and of course Fantastic
Don't take your life for granted,
Do good and don't... look to whom, when or how
It is better to loose a second in life than to loose your life in a second
You all are the best. I work with Eric and just learned what you have done for him. Truly amazing.
Community conscience is an extraordinary thing.... understanding that we all are in this together is an invaluable lesson you teach your children....and neighbors...Get Well Soon Eric.
Im a lineman in the Williamston office. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you brother.
GOD BLESS,
Steve Johnson and the Williamston Office.
Albemarle District
I want to thank all the people that are helping Eric and I too will donate. Your neighborhood is what makes America such a great nation.
It is with pleasure and delight that we are sending this correspondence. Please accept our apologies for the timeliness of this notice. We have been very consumed with many different things concerning Eric. We wanted to let everyone know that Eric is managing daily and is highly motivated to totally recooperate. There is not a day that goes by that Eric is not Thankful for his life and the wonderful group of caring people, whom GOD has blessed him to come into contact with. As a family, we are truly grateful for all of the gifts, cards and wonderful gestures that the DelRay community has done for Eric. He often talks about you guys and wants to get out there to see you all SOON. He is very anxious about getting out there and showing his gratitude to everyone there. So, expect to see Eric soon. Again,we THANK YOU ALL from the bottom of our hearts. GOD is real and GOD is Good! ALL THE TIME. Just look at what he has done in Eric's life and how he is guiding him through this traumatic experience. For all who were present on the scene during the accident, Eric wants you all to be Encouraged and know that all is well with him and he PERSONALLY Thanks you for being his ANGELS.
Take Care and God Bless You all
With Love
Eric Parker & His Devoted Family
Really, nice article. this one touched my heart very deep. I think every one should read the post at least. I had some knowledge about air conditioners but now i am interested in mini air conditioners. Because the demand in market is increasing .