Comments | estoile: Home and safe and grateful

estoile

Home and safe and grateful

Feb 24, 2011 00:04

JB and I are home tonight, having stayed at S&J's last night (many many thanks to them), as the house was potentially unsafe and leaking after yesterday's quake. Probably a third of the roof tiles had slipped -- Sebastian worked like a navvy to get them back in place today, bless him. No guarantee they'll stay there, of course, but we're good for ( Read more... )

earthquake

Comments 11

mactavish February 23 2011, 12:05:39 UTC

All this is reminding me of so much, that we need to brace the bookcases and china cabinet to the walls, and we need to add baby things into our earthquake "go bag," and make sure we have extra dog leashes in there. We live right smack on top of one of the most volatile faults in the country (well, not right on top, but it would take me 10 minutes to walk to where we'd be in the trace) and a quake as big as yours, centered nearby, would make our house unusable.

And knowing you and JB are weathering this okay makes me think we could too, but oh, it's so scary and hard.

estoile February 23 2011, 21:40:35 UTC

It is. Oh, it is hard. And so sudden. No warning ... that's what's scary. But it helps to know What to Do. Then you sort of go into autopilot. I literally talked myself through, step by step, with one short break for hysterics. (I'm not counting the screaming while everything was falling. That's different, and wouldn't have happened if there had been anyone else around to not-scare!)

I think of you often, sitting on top of your own fault. Hoping hard you'll all be safe. And there is comfort in knowing that you've been through this earthquake thing, and have come out sane.

It took me far too long to get everything together, but it was done in the end.

Big job after the cleanup: scanning all my hundreds and hundreds of photos, and storing the data somewhere not-on-site. That would be one less panic. I find I can handle the rest relatively well -- but then I'm one of the lucky ones who doesn't have to learn how to not-have most of my Things, this time.

ivorykiss February 23 2011, 12:08:04 UTC

I am so relieved you guys are safe!! *smishes you tight*

estoile February 23 2011, 21:42:00 UTC

Sorry to scare you... we're okay. Really. More okay than a lot of folks, and so grateful. HUGSBACK!!

You and Jacob ext_439865 February 23 2011, 16:34:50 UTC

thanks for posting, Amie. Daddy tried calling you several times on your cell but only got a recording. We have been hanging on every word and watching every moving thing on TV.

I envision you on your bike going through hell and high water to get to your child. It makes me cry to think of how brave all of you must be in the face of this. I love that JB was mad cause he had to get out of the pool--that's so "boy". How did the chickens do-I'll bet they stop laying for a time.
Glad to hear that Oscar survived. AND of course you screamed and cried and all those things--what else! I'm really glad your house is still livable.We are so happy that you two are alright.

Re: You and Jacob estoile February 23 2011, 21:53:01 UTC

I did get a message on my cell from Daddy, and it meant the world to me to hear his voice. I was so very glad Jen got through, just so I could prove to someone Over There that I really am okay, you know? I'll call when I get phone access, but heaven knows when that will be.

A survivor in one of the collapsed buildings was under her chair for 30 hours. She was in poor shape, but they got her out safely. She was able to talk to rescue workers while they were trying to get to her -- they described her as 'chipper'. Best kind of brave, that.

The chickens are hiding under bushes a lot. I didn't see much of them for the first day or so. Quite rightly! And yeah, not much egg action at the moment. But they're perking up now, not least because they got to devour a couple of quarts of stewed meat (from the uber-stock of Doooom!) that had been in the fridge ... and then out of the fridge -- fortunately still in its container! Oh well. Good protein for them.

LOVE YOU!

mmy_me February 23 2011, 17:40:45 UTC

good to hear from you - the general listing of who's ok had you on it, but it's good to hear in your own words. If we can help with anything - let us know!

estoile February 23 2011, 21:56:18 UTC

Thank you ... I will. There are folks a lot worse off.

Keep a good thought for us all? That helps ;-)

mmy_me February 24 2011, 01:20:35 UTC

you have our thoughts, believe it. and if you do need anything, ask. everyone would leap at the chance to be able to do something, anything!

Angel wings over you daphnis February 24 2011, 03:38:46 UTC

So gigantically grateful that you are okay, that Oscar survived, that school people took care of JB well, that the school community was able to help the kids cope with some of the radical changes (and the parents, of course!), and that the two of you made it home safely.

Heard directly (Email) from Saul Sebastian Sir Valiant Knight Denize, so was able to thank him for his rescuing endeavours and for their hospitality. If you need to use the magic card, I HOPE you managed to get the new one through the mail before the sky fell in, so USE it, please.

We'll be in touch sooner or later. I gave your Da your cell phone number; I left a message on it for you before that, so we'll consider that a contact. LOVE you hugely and so so so so grateful you and Boy are mostly okay!

Re: Angel wings over you estoile February 24 2011, 10:54:48 UTC

I'm truly overwhelmed by how fortunate we are, and how kind and generous folks have been. And thank god for the internet, and cellphones, and all that modern communication stuff, which takes some of the panic out of panicky situations ( ... )