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Sunday, February 28, 2010

Clueless!


Saturday was sunny and clear. We took a short walk in the morning and drove up to Bandon for lunch.  We sat and ate our crab enchilada and chicken cesar salad, drank Pinot Grigio and Long Island Ice Tea, and watched these pelicans on the rocks the entire time, as we enjoyed our meal in comfort at Lord Bennett's Restaurant.

We didn't know that a tsunami warning had been issued for the Pacific Coast as a result of the enormous earthquake in Chile.

After lunch, we decided to take our long walk of the day as we digested our meal.  The tide was still high, and walking had to occurr on the bluffs above the surf line, 30+ feet on solid land. We were halfway through our walk, when some tourist mentioned a tsunami arrival in his greeting. We cut our walk short and  got back to the car and the radio, at the time that the tsunami was about to hit Hawaii. 

We thought about our cottage on the lake and its possible destruction, the aggregated history in boxes and on the computer. Everything would be gone.  Our car, where I used to keep backpacks of emergency supplies when we first came up from California, is empty except for rain gear and baseball caps.  We had no food, no meds, no blankets.

I thought about Cloudia at Comfort Spiral and Pseudonym High School Teacher, two bloggers from Hawaii. 

I thought about the rest of my family in Southern California, in low land.

By the time we got back home, I had totally forgotten about the need to have emergency supplies in the car.

Why is it that we think these things won't happen to us?

These events should shake us up.

27 comments:

Brian Miller said...

i guess it all depends on where you are standing...thought about several blog friends yesterday...hoping they were well.

Unspoken said...

Yes, I am afraid I have the same weakness and am shocked when things hit home.

But the meal sounds marvelous!

PurestGreen said...

Don't kick yourself, just use it as the inspiration to get organized. It will make you feel better.

(And I agree - that meal sounds amazing).

Fire Byrd said...

Glad you were safe if out of supplies.
Hope all family were okay too down in California.

Unknown said...

Glad the Tsunami wasn't big! I could go for a Long Island Iced Tea, though!

Monkey Man said...

At least we now have accurate methods of predicting tsunamis in advance. We followed reports last night and were grateful that Hawaii and Japan escaped disaster.

rjerdee said...

A lot of food for thought! How quickly things can change...life on earth is truly fragile and we are definitely not in charge of it!

Helen said...

Dear Rosaria,
You are so right...we don't often think about the 'what if's' in our lives. A sense of sadness was everywhere in Sea World the day after the trainer's death. There were floral tributes placed throughout the park.
Take care .........

Tess Kincaid said...

I don't know why we always think these kinds of things happen to others, but never us.

Sounds like you had a nice afternoon, regardless!

potsoc said...

Glad that the tsunami turned out to be a tsunamette. I didn't know you were that near the shore and so near sea level.

Jennifer said...

You're right. Even if one is landbound and high up, as I am, other things can happen.

Enchanted Oak said...

I hope you grab backpacks this week and pack your emergency supplies. I should go through my own and repack them. I've put on 50 pounds (sigh) since I packed that spare change of clothes.

Lisa said...

The damage in Chile is quite astounding.

Tabor said...

It sounds like you dodged the bullet. I am assuming all is well?

Susan said...

Yummy experience. You are so right - we all walk around as if nothing could suddenly change - no preparations at all. Blissfully unaware of how precarious it is.

NitWit1 said...

I suppose "be prepared" is the best motto, but apparently the Tsunami effect was quite mild.

Maybe it is a warning to get prepared!

ds said...

Worried about fellow bloggers, family in SoCA, the world...but never about whether there should be any supplies in the back of the car...
And the word verification is "stable." Positive sign?

Nancy said...

I have made the decision, once and for all, to get that emergency box together!

Natalie said...

We survived too, Rosaria.

We did the gardening instead of going to the beach as originally planned.Couldn't have a messy yard for when the Tsunami came to visit now, could we? xx♥

Unknown said...

You're so right that we never think "it" is going to happen to us. Personally, I'm paranoid enough to consider anything's possible, including the bad stuff.
Hope all was well on your end of the country.

Maggie May said...

I hope all the people you mentioned are safe. Must be terrifying to be in the path of a tsunami.

Nuts in May

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

I blame television. It seems to breed a certain type of unreality. I'm glad all was well with you!!

Sniffles and Smiles said...

I am so glad that you are safe! Fantastic photo! ~Janine XO

Reya Mellicker said...

I have a friend who wears a small pouch around her neck AT ALL TIMES. In it is her passport, cell phone, cash and emergency contact information. When I first met her, I thought she was needlessly paranoid.

But then she told me she grew up in Beirut. Oh.

After 9/11 I decided she is really smart.

Trish and Rob MacGregor said...

Great post. I live in south Florida - no quakes, but plenty of hurricanes.

Midlife Roadtripper said...

Yes, once safe in home, it is easy to remain comfortable.

the walking man said...

It is not denial of practical reality but an expression of faith that we will remain whole in the troubled times.