Contributed by Marilyn Bennett
This is my earthquake story: The house was shaking, the dishes in the hutch were all clinking together.
My husband was in Wasilla doing his exercises and so he wasn't even here when I needed him.
When he got home, he explained that he was in the pool during the earthquake. He had his own little tsunami when the earthquake hit, and the lights went out. He then explained about the problem he had getting out of the surging pool and going into a dark changing room. Unfortunately, he could not see his locker combination, as there were only small security lights on in the locker room. Finally, with the aid of a cell phone light, he got his locker open, struggled out of his wet bathing suit and into his clothes.
He then went out to his car, and came home on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, where all the stop lights were out. Luckily, the usually crazy Alaska drivers were not zooming through the intersections, but they were all politely stopping and taking their turns.
His story might sound more interesting than mine, but I was the one who was at home, holding the doors shut on the hutch, so all our dishes would not break. That is until I began to worry that the hutch might fall over on me, so moved to a safer location. I was the one who had to deal with the pictures falling off the walls, I was the one cleaning up all the nail polish that tumbled into the bathroom sink. I was the one who cleaned up the glass from the floor. I was the one who picked up my poor, battered orchid and tried to get it back into its pot and spoon the dirt up off the floor and pat it carefully back around my dear plant.
Miraculously, our Christmas Tree was intact. Only a single bulb fell from the tree, but it didn’t break.
Then, as we were comparing earthquake stories, our young neighbor from across the street stopped over to see if we were okay. Since we are new to Palmer, that was a wonderful welcome to the neighborhood.
We all know that there are people out there who have real problems because of the earthquake, but it is heartening to realize that there are also plenty of wonderful neighbors to help out. So, take heart! It is a new, wonderful year, and we all have stories to tell for years to come.
My story may seem pretty lame, but most of you had one that is just as lame or maybe even more so. We all have relatives who live in non-earthquake zones who call to see how we are and know how disappointed they are when we say, "oh, it was no big deal." Everyone likes having a friend or relative (preferably one who lives far away and so doesn't need 'real help') who has a dramatic story.
So, if you give your friends an interesting story, they will have something to tell all their friends at the next get together. What's the point of having a relative or good friend in Alaska when an earthquake happens, if they don't have a good story? So, we all should dress up our stories a little, so as not to disappoint friends and family.
As for people who lived through a really tough time, I hope someday you can joke about it. Laughter is the best healing tonic for anything that life can throw at you. So, don't be upset and grab the pill bottle, just sit down and read some of the drivel I spew out, or go to YouTube and watch "Funny Money" with Chevy Chase, as that is the funniest movie I have seen in years.
Then, for those of you who enjoy projects as my husband does, you might follow his earthquake preparations.
First, fasten all your bookshelves and hutches to the wall. Next, install double roller catches on your cabinet doors, to keep your dishes from falling out. Then, if you are very particular, put museum wax under all your small knickknacks. Finally, secure the shelves to the bookcase, so they can’t slide out.
That may be a little over the top, but you will have bragging rights for having the most earthquake proof household in Palmer.
Wishing a happy and safe New Year to all, and hoping the aftershocks will not cause any more damage or emotional upset.
