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Apple Time Giveaway  Now I KNOW my Oklahoma history. I read that Steinbeck book and saw the movie with Henry Fonda about the 1930’s when a boatload of Okies travelled in old, rickety trucks to California to pick angry grapes because the grapes here were too dusty. I know that half the people in Oklahoma have relatives in California (also known as Californee) who decided that the beautiful land of plenty there beat our dust and home canned vittles – never mind those grapes of wrath. My sister is one of them, however she just went there because she liked it in the 80’s. And so, in spite of a few really weird states separating us (just kidding!), California and Oklahoma have a special bond. But we don’t like California THAT much. It’s a great thing for that long, skinny state to send us strawberries, avacados and Tom Selleck, but we draw the line at the earthquakes. Oklahoma doesn’t have earthquakes. Oklahoma doesn’t WANT earthquakes. Oklahoma has tornadoes and Oklahomans know how to hide from tornadoes in a shelter. But trust me…there is NO place to hide in an earthquake. Short of having a helicopter in your front yard, revved and ready at a moment’s notice to whisk you off of terra-not-so-firma, you are relegated to scrambling under a desk that you remember has the two million ton computer sitting on top of it – and therefore on top of you. So I guess you’ve seen the headlines. Saturday night, Armageddon struck the Sparks/Oklahoma City/Shawnee/Prague/Chandler area with a 5.6 tremor that sent newscasters across the country into fits of pretend frenzy. It was almost as bad as when the University of Oklahoma Sooners gave up their undefeated title to Texas Tech. Now, there HAS been damage. And to every individual or family who lost crystal, china, bricks, mortar and a sense of stability, just know that Californians are rolling their eyes right now and comparing this disaster to their size 8 rockers with disdain. However, a loss is a loss and there are a bunch of Oklahomans feeling that great loss today. A beautiful building in Shawnee, 100 years old, had major damage to it’s spires and it is a sad thing to behold. Homes have huge cracks, downed chimneys and scattered piles of bricks. Most people don’t have earthquake insurance. Who thought it was needed?! Mr. Fix-It and I are very fortunate. We have experienced no damage and are only left with a very strong sense of vulnerability from this experience. We have never been through anything like that before and really don’t want to do that again. I was slammed into Mr. Fix-It and he was slammed into the television armoir and I will not lie – I screamed like a little girl!! Yes I did. Somehow we made it under a table to experience the rolling and shaking on our knees like the total cowards we are!! And then of course, afterward, I had to call or text every individual I know in the state to say, “Did you feel THAT?!!” And they responded, “YES!! Did you?” And after determining that we had both felt “it”, then we compared notes about where we were, what we did, how we felt, what we thought, what we should have done and what we will do if there is ever a next time which we all agreed we hope there isn’t. I also called my “Californee” sister to find out what one is supposed to do in an earthquake situation besides run around screaming like a scared rabbit. Human action after a perceived crisis is a curious thing indeed and something I would suggest some Freudian expert study sometime. It might mean a government grant. So thank goodness for our awesome God, our protector, and a sturdy house. It is now possible for us to help someone else pick up their pieces. But just a word to you Californians…please keep your earthquakes and we’ll keep our tornadoes!! And to my sister (and all Californians), this is all in fun and I hope you will speak to me at the next wedding!!  Photo from KWTV News 9 Benedictine Hall at St. Gregory’s University lost a turret and had another (on the left) damaged and leaning  Photo from KWTV News 9 This home had major damage. The chimney also fell in and took the roof with it. Fortunately, these blessed souls had earthquake insurance.  Photo from KWTV News 9 Bricks shaken from a home are scattered in the yard.  Photo from KOCO Channel 5 Hwy 62 buckled and split  |
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First off, I am so glad you fared well through that.. Second, you are hilarious! Third, I didn’t know that it is common for Okies to have family in California. My Dad does too!
I thought about you and Mr. Fix-it when I heard about the earthquake, and said a quick prayer you would be okay. Seems like the prayer worked. Glad to hear you both made it through with nothing more than jangled nerves. For future reference, you might want to look up fault lines, and see if one lies anywhere near you, and you just might be surprised at the answer. Judy
Yikes! We couldn’t believe the news when we heard it! Yes, no one should have to worry about earthquakes AND tornadoes. What’s next, a hurricane? We are glad you are safe.
Thanks, Beth. Add in there prairie fires, blizzards and ice storms and yes, earthquakes are NOT necessary!! 🙂
Actually Judy, there is a fault line and it is called the Seminole Lift. We got lifted alright!! Thank you for the prayers. You are sweet.
The early morning earthquake woke me up but it was just a bad vibration…. The Saturday evening earthquake was much much worse… I didn’t have any damage but it was just about to the point of causing things to fall when it stopped, up to this point things were just rattling and moving around on the shelves. I immediately knew it was large (for us anyway) It was a little scary……
Thanks, Rebecca. Yep, talk to most Okies who have been here awhile and they have a story about the depression and family who went west!
Carol, Mr. Fix-It and I thought it was whole lot scary!! I was kind of surprised at his reaction. It really unnerved him. I am so glad you had no damage and that you are safe!!
Well I don’t blame him, he can’t fix earthquakes! I think you are right about tornados, at least you can take action and do something, with the earthquake you are helpless! I thought of you when thay said where the damage was, I am glad yall are ok. I feel bad for the people who have so much damage, yes it is just things but can you imagine having all your cabinets emptied into the floor, not only a HUGE hassel to deal with but expensive to replace even all of the food! One thing was funny, it didn’t seem to bother my dogs…
Our dog, Toby (labrador) barked for a solid hour before the earthquake. He stood at the garage door and just barked and barked insistently. We thought we were going to have a storm because he is afraid of them and does that right before a thunderstorm. I guess he was trying to warn us!!
What a good boy. My dogs probably weren’t bothered cause they had already gone to bed and were laying in the bed under the covers and not out guarding the house like Toby!
Well, as a native Californian who is being transferred to Oklahoma City next year, I can say that as scary as earthquakes are, they are mercifully rare, unlike tornadoes, and do not kill many people here in the United States. Also unlike tornadoes, all the stuff that was damaged is still there, not shredded over the next county. Out here we have special building codes and know how to prepare for quakes – strap the chimney and water heater, bolt tall furniture to wall studs, use Quake Hold (a generally available putty) to fix breakables to the shelves, don’t hang anything heavy over the headboard of beds, and make sure the house is bolted to the foundation. We also store canned food and extra water in case of damage to mains. However, I hadn’t thought I’d have to deal with quakes AND tornadoes when we move! It’ll be interesting….
Pamela, we will welcome you will open arms!! Congrats on your Okieness to be. 🙂 Actually, here, you have ample warning for tornadoes, shelters and safe rooms in which to huddle and cheap insurance to cover the costs if there are any. The big tornadoes are not common and normally we just have little ones that hop, skip and jump around a handful of homes, turning over a few chairs or taking off a roof.
Carol, Toby is nearly 15 years old. and only has three legs!! He’s a good dog
The news reported there had already been 18 after shocks with the largest being a 2.9. And that’s not all folks. This afternoon we have a 50% chance of a tornado according to the Weather Channel’s Torcon Scale. No nap this afternoon!
Hey, about that kitchen picture you posted…what’s wrong with it? My kitchen looks like that all the time!
Next time Toby starts that barking business, after 15 consecutive minutes will you give me a phone call? I’d like to pretend I have some sense of control and batt’n down the hatches before the shakin’ resumes.
Oh for sure!! And yes, there are tornadoes in the forecast. We are NOT living right, evidently! 🙂
I thought about you when they first reported the earthquakes! Glad ya’ll are okay! As a former Californeean, there is nothing more un-nerving than an earthquake in my book, no warning whatsoever! Well, except for your good dog! When Grace up in Colorado had the earthquakes last month, her animals were all acting strange for awhile before too! Maybe we should pay more attention to them?!? I heard about the tonadoes this evening, hope they weren’t near you!
Glad you made it through the quake with no damage. Have gotten many good recipes from you. Still waiting for the recipes to use the canned ham. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Mary Beth,
Sorry to get here so late, but when I heard about the quakes and then about the tornadoes, I immediately thought of you. Prayers went up. Glad to hear that you are safe.
We went through a small quake (in New Jersey of all places). Just rattled the house a bit and knocked a picture or two off the wall. Nothing to write home about. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have to run for cover (or watch bricks come crashing to the ground).
I was surprised to learn that moving to Tennessee put us in “harm’s way” so to speak. If you look at the map here…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1366603/Earthquake-map-America-make-think-again.html
…it looks like we’re in much more danger than you are. If you had to run for cover in that little patch of Okie green, imagine what we might face being on the border line of green and yellow in TN?
…And yes, we get hail storms here too. Just had one here in Murfreesboro. My wife’s car got pelted. We already got our check from State Farm. Looks like we might need a new roof too. Sigh…!
(:D) Keep the faith! God has His reasons.
Well, I’m also one of the former California earthquake dwellers. Born and raised in CA — (remember I told you my Mother was from Oka?, yes they traveled to CA). Now I live in one of those “weird” states inbetween (AZ) 🙂
A 5.6 is good size, especially if you are near the epicenter. Looks like that one house (kitchen picture) sure was. The last earthquake I dealt with before I left was the big one close to Silmar. I lived in Orange County and got up out of bed, looked out my upstairs window and saw transformers blowing up. I ran downstairs to go to my “safe” place, a small bathroom to stand under the beams. Unfortunately, I had to “go”….. so I was sitting on the toilet instead.
Glad to be out of earthquake terriory, but like others here, I am not sure I would want to be in tornados either!! Not much here in AZ except hot wind and dry.
P.S. I have a lovely 3 legged black lab also. And they do say dogs and cats can sense earthquakes. Keep listening to your kid and you can get under a door beam ahead of time!!
Thank you Candy. We are fine. In the throes of trying to put in a tongue in groove ceiling that is just about to kill us, but things have quieted down. Quiet is good!
Thank you Bob! And you jogged my memory. I haven’t put up any of those recipes have I? Ok. Will get on that. 🙂
Thanks Hawkeye!! We Okies are doin’ fine!
Diane, that would just freak me out!!! I hope we never have a big one here. Yep, our Toby dog is pretty good. He has barked and barked for the last few days about 30 mins before another aftershock hits. Pretty smart dog!!