Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On

Last night, I was at my stove preparing some hard boiled eggs for the week. I turned my back for a few seconds and heard the pot rattle. For a moment, I wondered how the water could’ve come to a boil that quickly. As soon as I realized the sudden jolt was an earthquake, it was over…and I breathed a sigh of relief no damage had occurred. A dear friend of mine whose car was stopped at a traffic light close to the temblor’s epicenter had quite an experience. He felt a similar jolt and a rolling sensation lasting 10 seconds, while hearing the unsettling sound of windows shattering from a shopping mall across the street. I bring these slices of life to your attention for a reason: unlike other natural disasters, earthquakes occur with no notice. Last night’s shaker caused minimal damage, but many southland residents in February 1971 and January 1994 were not as fortunate. Scientists tell us another massive quake is imminent, so I implore all of you to be prepared. Here is how you can get started: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/faq.php?categoryID=14

5 thoughts on “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On

  1. —I was there in Hollywood for 1971, I had my new baby Jay in his cradle and grabbed him. The clothes closet had folding accordion doors which kept crashing back and forth, open-close-open-close. It was very scary and I promised myself to move and eventually did.
    —But I had returned to California and was in North Hollywood for the 1994 quake. This time I thought I would die for sure. The quake seemed to last a long time. It was like a giant had stirred up everything in my house because things from the living room were in the bedroom, for example. Again, I promised myself to leave the land of quakes.
    –I finally have moved away again, and in the future I expect to return to California only to visit. LA is crowded, congested, a land of mental pirates, extremely poor public transportation

  2. I was a kid in 1971 and remember my bed “walking” across the room and all my breyer horses falling off my hutch. It was very scary.
    We lived in Huntington Beach, quite a ways from the epicenter if I remember right.

    At least here in NE, we get warnings to get to the basement before the tornado hits. And a tornado is the scariest thing I have ever been in, bar none. The devastation left behind so fast is awe inspiring.

  3. I live on the southeast coast and am always amazed how unprepared people are during hurricane threats…long gas lines…congested traffic…to the stores so emergency supplies can be purchased at the last moment…taking care of a family is more than providing a paycheck…

  4. I call for a moment of respect and awe for Mother Nature who also gives us the good things: singing birds, laughing babies, refreshing rains, warm healthy sunshine, cooling water, the smell of violets, the taste of a ripe, sweet peach pulled off a tree, and on and on. I thank her for the good things.

Comments are closed.