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Wow, what a day!

Not a whole lot has happened the past while to write about, just the same old busy busy busy…and then WAM!!!

First a text from Jessi that she had just had an earthquake...oh wait...go back...I was at a movie with Bonnie...phone on vibrate in my purse. (yes, I get it…earthquake/phone on vibrate) I get out of the movie...a text from Jessi about the earthquake, then I see I have missed repeated calls from her, John, and my Mom...oh man...panic set in, I could not even think of who to call back first...but to save me from decision...in came a call from John. Yes, there had been an earthquake, Jessi had called him also, she was OK, but trying to reach me to have me get on the internet to my Red Cross weather site to see what I could find out about a predicted TSUNAMI!!!

OH, man...the panic I had just felt went into something else, I can't even describe it. I was not crying or anything hysterical like that, all I knew was that I had better find a place to sit down. John had said Jessi needed me to check on the internet, Bonnie had a great idea....there used to be a library at the mall...she asked around, while I called to Rachel’s cell, knowing she would be home...she was not...but John was at home with the grandkids and so he said he would check it...meanwhile I tried to call Jessi's cell, since she had told her dad the home line was out. No answer...over and over and over...all the while I am walking back to my car. (no library at the mall anymore) Bonnie gave me a big hug (thanks Bonnie!) and off I went for home...still getting calls trying to figure out what happened...or was about to happen, that was the worst thing, thinking there still might be something worse COMING. I got home, by then Jessi had called me...she was fine...and it was looking like the tsunami had been called off, but still nothing definite. She had sent an email to my Coast Guard admiral friend, Ron, for an official report, like who would know more about the potential threat than the Coast Guard, right? and he sent one back to her saying that it was not going to happen after all, it would have happened within 2 hours of the quake, if it was going to happen. But they are still having aftershocks and so the fear is still there…what if? What if there is a bigger quake? What if it causes a tsunami?

I can't believe how fast these things happen...from one moment, enjoying a movie with a friend...to panic. I am now feeling such a sense of relief, but I feel so worn out.

The map above shows the island where she lives...she is on the north there in the Dominican Republic by that blue arrow...the other one is where the epicenter of the earthquake was...in Haiti. You can click on the arrows of the map and it will enlarge or shrink or move it around by dragging the mouse, so you can see exactly how far it is from Florida, etc. Reports are that many lives are lost, so even though there is no immediate loss for me, there is sadness for those who are dealing with it all.