dVerse Haibun and Haiku
One unexpected day for me quite unforgettable was the Northridge Earthquake: On January 17, 1994, at 4:31 am, an earthquake in California where I lived with my husband and six children occurred. It was rumored at that time the quake was over 7 magnitude, but for the benefit of the insurance companies, the experts said 6.7.
Suddenly without warning, the bed started to go up and down, violently, not back and forth as one would expect but, up and down. The noise of all the pictures and other “whatevers” hanging on the wall was overwhelming. I jumped out of bed knowing it was an earthquake and quickly ran into my children, pulling them out of bed, rushing with my husband outside the house, and into our car. Sitting in the car getting our self together after the shock of it all. Sitting waiting for daylight, since all utilities were out. We could see and hear our neighbors doing the same thing, but some were using flashlights inspecting their property. The aftershocks too were quite disastrous.
Our family was one of the fortunate ones with little damage compared to the many others. When something like this happens, at least in my case, I forget to pray I react to the experience only. Therefore, now when I am in my quiet time and do pray, I have this imaginary spiritual bank account that my Guardian Angel is in charge of, and if something of this nature ever happens again, I will automatically draw from it. It may sound silly to the reader here, but it gives me the piece of mind I need while living in this dangerous world.
Shake Rattle and roll —
One cold, long night without sleep
historic moment!
Wow – you and your family had quite the experience! Thank goodness you were all okay.
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It certainly was an experience!
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I enjoyed your story of the earthquake shaking you out of your bed. It must be unsettling to live in an earthquake zone, never knowing….. Great post. Enjoyed the haiku.
Dwight
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I no longer live in California, we moved to Washington State after my husband retired from Lockheed. I still am concerned about those we left behind.
Thank you for your comment!
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Interesting Story! Glad you ended up okay.
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Thank you and yes we are very grateful.
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Your details keep the reader engrossed, to follow you through this momentous event! These words made me smile: “I have this imaginary spiritual bank account that my Guardian Angel is in charge of, and if something of this nature ever happens again, I will automatically draw from it. ” It reminded me of how I was taught about Purgatory when I was young and I used to say prayers periodically and direct them to whomever needed exactly that amount of prayer to move from Purgatory to Heaven! Seems to me that’s similar to “cashing in on” your Guardian Angel. And, by the way, I do believe in Guardian Angels! 🙂 Your haiku includes the allusion to to perhaps winter….although a cold night could also be in the fall. It is certainly about nature: describing the earthquake.
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Yes indeed we all have a Guardian angel, and perhaps someday I will tell the story of when I was stuck in a snowstorm, a very large man, with a very large truck came out of nowhere and pulled me out with a large chain. I told him he was my Guardian angel, and he smiled. I guess someday is today since I just told the story. lol!
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I like the idea of a spiritual bank account one prays into that one’s Guardian Angel manages.
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Thank you, Frank, you can get one too, just ask!
The interest rate is fantastic!
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How scary when disaster hits… even a home is not a safe place
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