Tuesday, April 13, 2010

who knows . . .

so today . . . i have been thinking earthquakey thoughts.

a couple of weeks ago we had an earthquake, and our plan was to sort of earthquake-proof the house over the weekend. but we didn't. because, you know, stuff happens and we got sidetracked (and went to the movies.)

but we live in earthquake territory, so it is probably a good idea to be prepared. and yet it isn't realistic to just pack up everything because, you know, we LIVE here. but there seems to be some growing support for the idea that "the big one" is probably on it's way. and so it seems reasonable to me to do what i can to protect the things that are important to me. just in case.

i was home today, because i have pink eye. my morning did not get off to a good start--i couldn't open my eyes! i had to grope my way to the bathroom sink to unstick them. and on the way, it became very clear to me that i also had a killer headache. so i took some tylenol, put antibiotic drops in my eyes, and went back to bed. and started thinking about, "what if there was an earthquake today?"

really. what if there was an earthquake today? what would i want to save? my initial answer was easy--i thought of three things. the more i thought about it, the more i thought that maybe i should do what i could to make those items safe. so i did. but then as i looked around, i thought, "but what about the big round mirror? and the signed print? and the stained glass we got in mexico for our 25th anniversary?" it was pretty easy to take care of those things, so i did. then i thought, "would i need clothes? skin care products? and what about that kind of expensive hand lotion i just got--i would hate to lose that in the rubble. and maybe i should pack a toothbrush--just in case." so i put a few things in a small bag and put it by my bed. just in case.

and then i made a small stack of books to put into a drawer. and i moved the dolls my mom made for diandra into my dad's old sea chest, hoping that would be enough protection for them. i put some water bottles and the dog's leashes into the car, along with my external hard drive. then i went into the kitchen . . .

. . . and i just stood there. i have a lot of dishes and glassware. and many times dishes and glassware are the first casualties of an earthquake. but as i stood there in the kitchen at 10:30 p.m. tonight, i realized that i couldn't save it all. i walked around the house and realized that if there is an earthquake tonight, our tvs will be smashed on the floor. our framed photographs will lie in puddles of broken glass. my wedding china and christmas dishes will be history. my coke bottles from other countries will be intermingled with glass from broken windows. all those clothes that i have so carefully been organizing will probably be ripped and ruined. and even the few things that i boxed up and put into relative safety might not survive in one piece.

i have found that my thinking has shifted several times today. it has been kind of unsettling. i need to go to bed, but it seems like i'm not ready yet. because really, what if there is an earthquake? tonight?

maybe i should vacuum . . .

1 comment:

mom said...

Always pays to be as ready as we can but I'm with you that you have to live in a space and we could never save it all. It boggles the mind. Hopefully we never have to deal with such a disaster...