Ok…so, I am one of the thousands of people ripped from sleep last night by the earthquake.
I have to admit, I originally blamed my husband. I thought he was shaking the bed. I mean, really, earthquakes and the Midwest don’t typically mix. But within a few seconds, I realized what was happening. I yelled, “its an earthquake” and ran for the kids’ rooms. I grabbed Delaney and Jeff took Coop….we huddled in the doorway unti the shaking stopped. I don’t know exactly how long it lasted…but long enough to be shaken awake, realize what was happening, bolt to Delaney and stand in her doorway.
(God love my Midwest husband….he thought maybe we should head to the basement for safety.) I grew up in California and know that a basement is exactly where you DON’T want to be, but when you grow up with tornado drills instead of earthquake drills, the basement is a safe haven.
The kids thought it was fun to crawl into Mommy and Daddy’s bed for a little bit. They never felt threatened for a second, but that’s my job, right? They even went peacefully back to sleep within 40 minutes..and slept in. Bonus.
It has been 14 years since I’ve felt an earthquake, but you just don’t forget the unsettling feeling. I was startled awake last time too….I was in San Diego when the Northridge quake hit, and I remember watching the water splash out of our home pool during the Whittier quake. You have the truest sensation that everything is completely out of your control. There is no way to predict them – no ‘earthquake sirens’ sound, you don’t know how long it will last and you don’t know if what you felt is isolated or just the beginning.
We had an aftershock, but I was exercising and didn’t feel it. Here’s to hoping we’re done with the shaking for now.
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