We have been having a string of incredibly beautiful fall days in Anchorage. Clear blue skies, beautiful fall colors, and temperatures that are just cool enough to put a slight spring in your step. These have been some of those days when you are thankful to live here. Shortly before 10 this morning, I was in my office and mom was with others in the other building participating in a spill drill. Earthquakes come in many shapes and sizes. This one started with a big bump, kind of like going over a speed bump in a car. Sometimes that is all you get. This time the bump was joined by sustained shaking that increased in intensity. About 10-15 seconds in the shaking seemed to reach a crescendo and slack off, but then, we started back up the ladder of intensity. At this point I abandoned ship and headed for the core of the building, just getting out of my office as the sliding glass door started clanging in its tracks and things started falling off my shelves.
I staggered down the heaving hall and reached the elevator bay thinking, "wow, this could be the big one." Finally, it subsided and the tremors of the earth faded into vibrations of the quake resistant building. The elevator cables thrummed in their bays, but the elvators were shut down..
Quick "are you ok" calls, texts, and emails went around. Websites were consulted to find that it was a 6.2 quake. There is definitely now a new topic for conversation around the halls. Most were like us. That is the biggest quake we have felt.
Maybe this is not so wonderful.