Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Got Quakes?

Today was a very moving day for me. 
(I’m trying too hard, aren’t I?) 
If you weren’t on the East Coast to experience it, you’ve no doubt heard about it by now.   There was an earthquake, epicenter near Richmond, Virginia and felt all the way…actually, I haven’t seen the news so I don’t know how far away it was felt but I’ll tell you where I was when I felt it. 
I was in my chair at my desk doing very important government work.  I had just clicked a very important button to do a very important thing when suddenly there was a rumble from beneath me, my desk started quaking, my very important Presidential Library mugs started clanging together, and I thought what the hell is that?!  Okay, I didn’t think it.  I said it.  My colleague in the cubicle across from mine looked out his window and informed me, very calmly and matter-of-factly, that it was an earthquake. 
Look, this was the first time my world’s been rocked, if you know what I mean.  Earthquakes don’t happen on the East Coast!  What does one do in an earthquake?  They didn’t run drills for this sort of thing in my elementary school!  Do we shelter in place?!  Do we find a bathtub and cover ourselves with a mattress?  I work in a federal facility – no bathtubs or mattresses for us – there was a plan, by golly. 
The plan was to exit to the nearest stairwell.  That pIan was fine with me...I work darn close to a stairwell so I calmly proceeded into the stairwell.  But then they told us to keep going, exit the building, huddle together at our assigned spot.  Good plan and all.  But I couldn’t help but wonder…what happens when the trees start falling and the ground opens up and swallows us deep into the Earth’s core?  Then I realized that I was just being a panicky East Coaster who has never been through an earthquake before.  It was gonna be fine.
Besides, I had more pressing concerns.  I left my purse and my phone inside.  Inside the building in which I was no longer inside.   So, unlike my colleagues who were furiously calling loved ones, following Twitter, and checking into the earthquake on Foursquare, I was just standing there, waiting to get back into the building so I could get my stuff, text my mom and friends, follow Twitter, and check into the earthquake on Foursquare.
Eventually, I got back into the building and got my purse.  When I turned on my phone, I was surprised – and moved – by the concern for me on Facebook.  I sure have caring friends!   My brother sent this nice text (it’s the last one):
Are you impressed that I figured out
how to take a screen shot of my text
message?  Because I sure am!
What?  Now you’re laughing?!
I survived my first earthquake but I’m fine with making it my first and last.  Let’s hope there’s a little less movement of the Earth’s plates tomorrow!
*For the friends who care - the Presidential Library mugs are fine.  More importantly, the Donald Duck curio is safe!  No Donalds were damaged during the quake!

2 comments:

  1. These days, an earthquake's just not an earthquake until you've sent out a tweet and gotten all checked-in.

    I'm so glad you, the mugs, and Donald were all okay!

    ReplyDelete
  2. If there is no Tweet, did it really happen?

    ReplyDelete