Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Shaken.

 Literally. Figuratively. 

Today I experienced my first-ever earthquake.  On the third floor of the office building on which I worked.  In central Pennsylvania.

I was out of there in 15 seconds - my body worked automatically: grabbed my phone, grabbed my bag, and ran down the stairs outside.

The rest of the office building residents convened out in the parking lot because we weren't really sure what had happened.  There were people laughing and wondering why we were all outside.  There were many, many people on their cellphones trying to figure out what exactly was going on.  I seemed to be the only person on the verge of a complete and total breakdown.  The earth was NOT supposed to move at work - not in MY world!!!

So I ditched everyone.  I was terrified.  I could not bring myself to walk back up the stairs to the third floor.  I went home and don't even remember the drive.  I needed to get home and see for my self that my kids and animals were all fine.  Which they were.  The kids were hanging out in the living room.  The goat kids and horses and chickens and bull and Dolly Llama were grazing as if nothing had happened.  I got my normal back which is what I needed to do. 

I realize what a sheltered life I live.  In central Pennsylvania, we don't usually have to worry about hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes......and I like it that way.  But today's experience has certainly given me a different type of perspective.  I've experienced not-quite-a-hiccup of the earth.  And was terrified.  How must the people in Haiti or Japan or Richmond have felt? 

I am thankful for my peaceful life. 



1 comment:

ElderberryWine4u said...

I'm glad you are ok, Beth. My friend in DC called me and she was pretty shaken up, too.

Busy summer

So much for keeping up with this blog! Seems like there is always something to do and for that, I am very grateful! We finally have rain - i...