living in earthquake country
You are sitting working at home, it’s quiet, the cars are going by and you are puzzling over your task. Suddenly there is a quick jolt like a really large person just fell on the floor next to you but there is no sound. Your freeze, hands poised over your keyboard.
Time slows down and - A LOT - you feel your heart catch, in a few milliseconds your brain goes through possible explanations, discards the first few. If it shakes again then you know there is no other explanation.
Then your eyes dart in the direction of your usual check: a glass of water. You always have a check in any room you are in regularly: A plant, a dangling cord. It’s moving, ok, earthquake. How big? If you are with other people you look at each other, eyes big.
Is it still happening? Should you dive under the desk? or run to door frame?
It’s stopped. You breathe again, it was small nothing major.Time speeds up to it’s normal pace again.
Your fingers fall back into their place on the keyboard. You continue on with the way things were just a few seconds ago. Like an old fashioned robot toy whose ON button has been pressed. You go on with your day despite this regular reminder that you never know how things will change in an instant.
Later you ask everyone if they felt it, and they will give their account quickly. Then you all take deep breath and smile sheepishly at each other.
