Kaonashi Ga Suki

Those of you who live in Southern California (like me) may have felt the recent earthquakes this past week. Yesterday’s tremor was especially strong- strong enough to get me to stop playing Starcraft and run for cover under the nearest doorway.

It’s been a while since I felt a quake that strong. Usually it’s just a quick little rumbling, but nothing to worry about. Such rumblings are to be expected in California- or Japan. The funny thing is that, when I lived in Japan for a year and a half, I think that I felt more little tremors there than I ever felt here. Nearly every month I spent in Japan, the ground would shake slightly.

I haven’t always been used to earthquakes. I still remember my very first earthquake. It was in 1987, during the Whittier earthquake. It was very early in the morning, and my brother and I were getting ready for school. I was in 6th grade. I was brushing my teeth in my parents’ bathroom when I felt a mild rumble. I thought it was large semi-trucks outside so didn’t pay much attention to it at first, but then the house started to shake violently. As I ran downstairs shouting, “Earthquake!” I saw a (fake) potted plant topple to one side. My grandparents, brother, dog, and I evacuated the house and took refuge in the neighborhood gazebo (we lived in a townhouse complex).

After the shaking, other people poured out of their houses, asking each other questions like, “What was that?” and “Is everything all right?” We remained under the gazebo, unsure of what to do next. Is it safe to go back in? What about Mom and Dad? Are they ok?

About 20 minutes later, I saw my friend riding his bike. He was wearing his PE clothes. He told me that he was getting ready for first period PE when the quake struck. Classes were canceled for the day and the children were sent home.

My dad showed up about an hour later. He warned us not to go in the house yet in case there was a gas leak or something, but he quickly went in to get a radio. We listened to the news about the quake and its magnitude, all the while worrying about my mom. Since we didn’t have cell phones during that time, we still couldn’t get in touch with her. Eventually my dad determined that it was safe to return to our house.

We called my mom’s office, and fortunately she answered the phone. She was safe and sound, but scared. She vanpooled to work, and when the quake hit they were on a bridge. The bridge started swaying, which terrified everyone in the van. The van happened to be stopped underneath one of those large freeway signs, which started swaying, and everyone feared that the sign would fall right on top of them. The driver was frozen with fear and couldn’t move. My mom had to calmly talk to her to get the van moving again.

That week (and for the rest of the month), the main topic of conversation was about earthquakes. Stores sold emergency kits, which flew off the shelves as people stocked up in preparation for the next quake. The news featured information about causes of earthquakes, predictions, earthquake safety, etc. We kids at school practiced earthquake drills. In the event of a tremor, we were instructed to hide under our desks and to cup one hand on our neck and the other on our head. When the shaking subsided, the teacher is to take the class to the nearest meeting area- a section of the playground. Similar drills occured at my parents’ offices. For example, at my mom’s office, employees were reminded not to take the elevators and instead take the stairs. They too, were taught to hide under their desks if an earthquake hits.

People worried about the earthquake, thinking that this was a precursor to one far greater and more deadly. When will the Big One hit? they wondered. Will it be strong enough to separate California from the rest of the continental U.S.?

In time people forgot about the earthquake and life went on as usual…until the next major earthquake, which if I recall, was the far more destructive Northridge quake in 1994. Since Northridge is quite a ways from where I lived (Hacienda Heights), I don’t recall feeling it.

Have any of you ever felt an earthquake?