The Earth Moved

Obstruction: Survive a moderate earthquake.

I experienced my first earthquake. In the hotel room in Monterey, it sounded at first like a large person walking on the floor above us, creaking and cracking. Then the walls of the room began a soft moaning, like they were stretching. Finally the bed began to move, very rhytmically but much more than a truckers vibrating bed. There was nothing I could do but hold on.

After the room stopped moving I jumped up and ran to the door frame. SB meanwhile was totally non-plussed. I’m freaking out, running around, looking out the window to see if the hotel was evacuating, worrying about what to do next. He’s just sitting there saying it was no big deal.

Then voices from next door started filtering into our room. “Holy Shit that was an earthquake! Quick turn on CNN!!!!” We chuckled to ourselves.

No one was injured, but a lot of people were freaked out, even locals, as I was quick to point out to SB. It wasn’t just me!

For the rest of the trip I felt a little jumpy, a little unsure of the ground under me. And more pressing I wanted to know what an earthquake would feel like if you are in a car, on a pier or in a bath tub! I think it would be sloshy.