tsunamis... underwater earthquakes. earthquakes have been present in my life for all of my life. that's part of being a california native, i suppose. there was only one(so far) that really made a BIG impression on me. 7.5, to be concise. it happened to be my 2nd child's 3rd birthday, october 17, 1989. i was employed in downtown santa cruz on the pacific garden mall, which isn't a mall at all, just a long street with lots of shops, restaurants, hippies, jazz trios, that sort of thing. it was almost closing time, and an "old mistake" happened into the place. long-ass story, not now. this was a bit uncomfortable, to say the least. he attempted to talk to me, and i kept busy with my work, trying like hell to avoid any conversation. there were a few other people in the place. then, at 5:04 p.m., things got crazy. all of the glass in the place began to shake, as did the floors, walls, everything. the rumble was unreal. like a roar. people were looking into each others faces, hoping to find an easy answer for what was happening. but there was no time for eye contact. the walls and roof were coming down fast. i remember yelling "im outta here!" i barely remember the mad dash for the door, but everyone made it out to the streets, which were insane-beyond-belief. buildings crumbling, sidewalks literally cracking open. up and down the street, fire alarms, sprinkler systems, sirens, screaming and yelling. panic. i stood on the hemorrhaging sidewalk, next to the last person i ever wanted to see, and i told him i wasn't gonna die with him, goddamn it! we surfed the cement amid the total mayhem, and i really wondered if i'd be getting out of this one alive.
then it stopped. but the noise was unending. then, the crowds of people that were downtown ... just walking around in absolute shock. hardly anyone driving. just wandering around the streets, aimlessly. like night of the living dead or something. i managed to slip away from that person i desperately needed to be away from. since i ran out of my work in a bit of a hurry that day, i lost my purse, as well as my daughter's birthday gifts. i had picked them up at lunch that day.(at "cotton tales"-just down the street.) my car keys were in my purse. there was nothing left of the building i worked in, or countless of the other buildings downtown. i finally got a ride with a friend out to my kids later that night. luckily, they were both safe with their dad. that was the greatest mother-and-child-reunion ever, i think. i recall laying on the ground outside that night, just feeling grateful that things were calmer. somewhat calmer. the aftershocks lasted for weeks though. i gained immense respect for "our mother" that day. the tsunami warning last night brought back some of that familiar feeling in me. But it was short-lived. just a reminder, that mother earth is always in control. no matter how powerful we may think we are, we are no match. respect your mother!
