Comfort in the face of the earthquake

Donna and Lynn gazing at each other 2013

I’ve never experienced an earthquake before.  It was a really eerie feeling to have the air and ground moving around me.

I was working at my desk and Lynn was working in the back room at his computer when it started.  At first I just thought it was dynamite being used to get rid of stumps or someone doing construction but it went on way too long for that.  I knew fairly quickly it must be an earthquake and became sure when it didn’t stop.

I admit I was spooked.  I wondered if things were going to start falling (i.e., trees, shelves, whatever).  I quickly looked outside for falling trees (we live in the woods) and was relieved to see none; then I yelled for Lynn.  “Are you okay back there?”  He didn’t answer right away so I quickly went to his room.  He was deep in thought in front of his computer totally ignoring the earthquake.  “Are we having an earthquake?”  “Yes,” he responded very calmly with a smile.  “Do we need to do anything, like get in a doorway or something?”  “No.  This isn’t that bad.  It’s okay.”  He was so calm that I immediately became calm, too.  I felt the comfort of his presence and his assurance.

Being the one who handles almost everything these days, I forget sometimes that he is still my protector and my comforter.  It’s nice to have that reminder.  It felt good to let him be in control for a while.  I miss that.