I never thought I would experience an earthquake living in central Virginia but on Tuesday 08.23.2011 I did!! It's hard to express exactly how I felt except that it was probably the scariest thing I have ever experienced in my life. I was alone at work in my office when the walls and windows began to shake and stuff just starting falling to the floor. WOW.... I ran outside only to see everyone else running outside too. My whole body was shaking and a feeling of nausea hit! At first I was not sure what it was...maybe an act of terrorism (of which I remember all to well on 09.11.01 and I might have been just as scared then as I was on Tuesday). The first thing I did was try and call my family ... NO PHONE SERVICE...so I began to text!! Everyone was ok (My Mom, Dad, daughters Abby and Bailey never even felt it because they were driving and My Sweetie was on a tractor moving hay and never felt it either). I was getting texts from friends from other states too, some had even felt it there. WOW... the outpouring of concern!! Offices and schools closed, buildings evacuated and some buildings will be demolished as they are unsafe. As I rushed through the office trying to clean up the mess the earthquake had left, I began to worry about my house. So I headed home, worried about my house,my chocolate lab Bella who was home alone and the aftershocks every news station was talking about. When I got home, there were a few pictures that had fallen but all else looked well...until I saw the bricks scattered in my front yard!! The chimney on my circa 1880 farmhouse had suffered some damage.(Well a bit more than expected after My Sweetie got on the roof and it affected 2 of my chimneys). I have felt a few aftershocks but nothing compares to what I felt Tuesday although the last one did scare me enough that I really never went back to sleep. But overall we were all lucky as there were no serious injuries or deaths.
Now they are saying "Irene" is going to "whip" us with her wind gusts and rain. So to everyone out there: Be safe!!! Stock up, board up and suck it up because I think we will be getting some of "Irene" this weekend.
So in life's journey, I would not recommend experiencing an earthquake or hurricane BUT if one comes your way, just remember you can say you were shaken, rattled & rolled!! Oh and by the way, don't think I will be going to see Foreignor, Journey and Nite Ranger this weekend!! Instead I will be singing at home "I've been waiting for a hurricane like you..."
Be safe my friends!! Love to you all
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