Can You Hear The Mountains Tremble?
August 25, 2011 * * * * * Posted by: Puna 
A couple of days ago the ground trembled here in the eastern part of the US. It happens so rarely that people had no idea what happened until it was over. And people still didn't know what just occurred. It was that sense of disbelief that lingered throughout the Washington DC area for the rest of the day.
This photo belies the peace that followed the trembling. By this time it was all over but for the head scratching. The earth was no longer rolling, the mountains no longer trembled and the water in my pool had quit sloshing around.
I have felt many an earthquake. We lived in Japan for about three years and the ground would tremble often - as often as once every couple of months. It happens so often in Northern Japan that many of the high rise buildings were built on rollers, so that they would move and give with the ground. True. Most were small tremors but I remember two or three scary ones. We had an earthquake check-list and on the top of the check-list was to find a safe place, away from danger - and it's normally not outside which is where most people would go. That place would be in the frame of a load bearing doorway - if you can get there. So that's where we ran, the boy, the girl, the cat, the dog, our youth pastor and I. Our youth pastor Mark just happened to stop by a couple of minutes before "for no reason" he said. It probably so he could give us our eulogy when we died in the earthquake! - sorry.
Most people here in Washington DC remember the attacks of 9/11 like it was yesterday so it's understandable that it would be the first thing that came to mind for people in the buildings there. It's a scar that may not ever heal. It a sad legacy - an earthquake opens those wounds and brings back the fear all over again.
The epicenter for the quake was in Virginia, about an hour away from our home. As such, our glasses rattled, our light fixtures swung, and our eyes were like coffee cup saucers. I know that people in Alaska and California chuckled a little at our little tremor but here on the east coast - it was a time for prayer.
I felt small in God's big world. It's quite a thing, to be terrified one minute - and the next pinching ourselves to make sure we're still alive.
To live another unbelievable event another day. Oh please - no aftershocks...
spirituality
Reader Comments (16)
Oh Puna...a beautiful image! It's weird, we had a 5.2 out here on the border of New Mexico (Raton) yesterday as well. We have many fault lines in this state and have so far been granted their reprise. Mother Earth certainly seems to be shaking things up and making us pay attention. There are simply no warnings for many things that may come. All the more reason to embrace our lives and be present. I don't think anyone can ever be totally prepared! Yes, being terrified one moment and grateful the next is an interesting set of emotions!
Thank You for your words and wisdom.
We keep hearing about the "Big One" here in Vancouver, BC and I have been fortunate enough not to have experienced any major tremors so far. I try not to think much about. It must be quite a sobering moment to go through. Reading your post makes me realize even more how each and every day is precious.
I love the peace and tranquility emanating form your photograph. Beautiful colours :-)
Yes...we felt it here in Boston as well. It's the strangest most unexpected sensation. And yes - it does evoke the most primal of fears in us...and that catastophe - whether man made (like 911) or nature's can strike at any moment. A life lesson to live each day to its fullest!
The calm in your image is soothing...
We heard it on the new here, I checked my friends, thank god they were okay. All those in need and danger, be safe, i will pray
Years ago in Pasadena, Puna, we also would get tremors that rattled the china in the cabinet, so I know what you mean. It makes you wonder what you would do if it were worse...which you have clearly already experienced in Japan. I don't suppose it ever becomes ho-hum, especially since you have no clue when it's coming. Now I'm watching what Hurricane Irene is doing, wondering how y'all will fare with that! Prayers all around.
As the others have already said, every day is a gift and must not be taken for granted! Peace to you and yours...just like your gorgeous image.
on this morning's news, i watched richard branson standing in front of the ashes of his zillion dollar home with his 90-year-old mother who was literally carried out by kate winslet. nature wins....but, we prevail. survival is random, but as you say, gratitude is not. it is a choice we all make.
thanks for the post that pointed out the importance of appreciation.
The picture is delightful and calming, it brings back balance to everything.
We don't experience earthquakes of that magnitude over here. But I do recall one occasion when we had a noticeable quake and felt the earth ripple. I was working in a Ministry of Defence building at the time and some people thought we had been bombed...
Following on from Honey, appreciation and gratitude are so important.
I experienced my first earthquake in Taiwan and it scared me to death! Now living in California I'm still not "used" to any rattles of the earth and I felt ashamed of my fellow Californians who chuckled about the people on the East Coast. Any nature's "bad moods" is completely out of our hands and our control and we should be grateful for every "uneventful" day we have.
Such a beautiful image, Puna.
Earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes. It is a time to send up prayers for everyone who may be affected by this awful weather.
Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement. I will be sending prayers for all who were affected by the earthquake and now affected by the upcoming storm.
So appreciated.
Puna, I love these words, "I felt small in God's big world". Every now and then we are reminded of the power that we do not have. That we can only do the best we can in certain situations and the rest is out of our hands. I'm glad that you were all safe. With your Youth Pastor there I'd say you had a little "extra" protection!! And thank you for sharing about the experiences with earthquakes in Japan. I had no idea that some buildings are built on rollers...makes so much sense! And I love that I learned something new today.
what a stunning picture!!!!
looks so tranquil and calm, quite the opposite of what you write about.
as we're on top of the great rift valley here, we often get little quakes and tremors - one set off a volcano a few years ago, ol donyo lengai.
yes, we are very small on this earth, natural events always remind us of that.
I'm a little late in reading and responding to your post. But today it seems that you will be under the threat of "Irene." *sigh* Be safe, Puna.
Gorgeous photo, and yes, Mother Nature really is in charge here, though it can be so easy to forget that sometimes. This past weekend we were in the Adirondacks and were forced to leave due to Hurricane Irene. We were all lucky and safe and experienced no damage, but we passed so much flooding and trouble on our way home. It was a day to feel grateful. Hope you didn't get hit with the hurricane as well after the earthquake.
I scratched my head afterwards as I felt nothing at all here on Long Island. A dizzy moment in Trader Joes perhaps. It was odd.