Earthquake!

Yay, I survived my first earthquake! Connor and Elise and I were sitting on the hallway floor coloring with crayons when I heard a noise like a big truck coming down the hill. Now, ever since we moved to LA, every time I hear a noise like that, I wonder, "Is that an earthquake?" I didn't have to wonder for long though, because seconds later the floor just started zig-zagging underneath us. The kids were practically on my lap already, so I just pulled them closer and scooted about a foot over into the laundry room doorway. It was more exciting than scary at the time. About 10-15 seconds later it was over. Nothing had moved in the house, no damage or anything. I explained to Connor what had happened and told him to stay close, while I cautiously went to turn on the TV and call Ryan. His first words were "I'm okay!". Now, I was glad to hear this, but I must admit that it hadn't even occurred to me that he wasn't okay. I guess I had too much faith in the indestructability of Los Angeles sky-scrapers or something.His experience was a lot more dramatic. Because the building is on rollers, and because his office is on the top floor of a 55-story building, they were rocking back and forth above the city for quite awhile. After talking to Ryan later I realized that most of his coworkers really thought they were going to die, Ryan included. (He wasn't scared, though. No way!) While I was talking to him, I wandered back towards the living room doorway, only to be followed quickly by a nervous Connor, who grabbed my leg and asked, "Is it shaking again?" I guess he thought I was taking cover without him. Other than that, Connor seemed to think the whole event was pretty fun. I was jittery and shaking for about an hour, which seemed silly, because nothing bad had happened. Nonetheless, I took the kids outside for a couple of hours to avoid being crushed to death by imaginary aftershocks. (We never felt any.)

During a later phone call with Ryan, he managed to convince me that the kids were safe to go inside and take their naps (thank goodness).

We said alot of thank-you prayers over the next couple days. I'm glad that the kids were right with me when it happened, because if I had had to run through the house gathering them up, I think I really would have been freaked out, and they would have been too.

Elise and Dad playing a rousing game of Swingball . .