This week you could see them parked at local hotels, in convoys along main roads, and in small groups on side roads: bucket trucks and utility trucks, some of which came from as far away as Michigan and Virginia to help restore power to thousands of Massachusetts homes after last week’s ice storm. The sight of one nearby was enough to raise the spirits of anyone who saw it: help has arrived!

During a typical power outage—the one- or two-hour variety—we tend to take for granted the process involved in restoring the power, and grumble about why it’s taking so long. This week we were reminded that power gets restored in a tedious low-tech process—involving chain saws, tools, and strong hands—by real people who, despite having this as an occupation, also make sacrifices to get the job done. This week they worked long hours in the cold and the dark a long way from home, right before Christmas. Who this week hasn’t wanted to seek one of them out, give them a hug, a slap on the back, or a plate of cookies, and a big “thank you”?

We salute the workers who keep us connected to the phone system, the Internet, and the electric grid we often take for granted, and wish them happy holidays and safe travels home.