Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Think Out Loud [12] Butterflies and Earthquakes

Everyday, twice a day, I wait at the same light. I almost never catch it, and I'm usually looking in my rear view mirror trying to figure out a way to keep siblings from tearing each other apart in the car. I'm usually not looking around, but today I looked around and caught sight of a butterfly. A solitary beautiful butterfly. I followed its path as the bickering in the backseat disappeared, until my eyes met with the woman's in the car next to mine. She was doing the same thing. We stared at each other in recognition. We both realized we shared this moment of silent joy. I celebrated that of course by laughing out loud. My mind instantly shifted to the last time I connected with a stranger with just one look. August 8th, 1993, Guam, weeks before leaving home for college.

My mom and I went to Safeway to buy Baileys and garlic bread. I know, weird combo. On the islands you often have to hit several different stores to complete your grocery list. I was standing in front of the wine coolers when a rumbling sound made the bottles rattle. I thought it was insane for Safeway to be moving equipment big enough to shake the concrete floors. The groaning and rumbling continued. I looked around and found a man ten feet way. Then the bottles exploded. I caught his eyes again. "We're having an earthquake," I said stupidly. A huge one. We stared at each other for another long second. The floor yanked sideways so hard the lights above were breaking. My brain took over and insisted I find my mom. So I wandered the isles of booze looking for her. I have no idea how I remained on my feet other than the explanation why drunks rarely are hurt in accidents. I was in such a shocked state I was completely relaxed.

Then I found her. She slipped right in front of me surrounded by broken liquor bottles and wearing the same thing I was wearing, a sundress and flipflops (we call them zories on Guam). "You have to get up, Mom." "I can't!" She was sliding around in the booze. Then I saw her toe bleeding. "You can't be in that glass, Mom." "Robyn!" She was trying to snap me out of it. "No, mom." I bent down, and with my hands secured under her arms, I picked her up like she weighed nothing until her eyes looked down on me and her feet dangled above the shards. I couldn't let her be hurt again. "Put me down! We have to take cover. The windows are going to break!" I looked at the wall of windows. "No, I can't let you get cut again." "ROBYN!" That did it. I set her down. She grabbed my arm and we used a grocery cart to guide us to a checker stand where we folded ourselves in the small space the checker person stands when she rings up your order. The ceiling was coming down. Glass was exploding left and right and I had unknowingly strained all my muscles fitting myself into that tiny space with my mom, and maybe lifting a grown woman above my head.

The earthquake registered at 8.2 for over a minute. I shook for hours after. I still remember that moment with the man when the bottles exploded in front of us. A stranger experiencing the biggest shock of his life at the same time I was. I had no idea Guam sat on an insane fault line. Eighteen years of small and medium earthquakes that were just kind of cool, then this. And I shared that moment of awe and terror with this guy.

Think Out Loud is a meme like no other. Whatever is on your mind, big or small or in picture form, join us, share.

19 comments:

  1. Wow, this definitely is a unique meme. You've got some really deep thoughts. I just followed you via Google +, GFC and Bloglovin'. Hope you can check out my blog as well.
    Thanks,
    Laura @ Music Plus Books

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    1. Laura, hi! I lost your blog in my lack of bloglovin' organizing. I remember stopping by and falling in love with that Korean pageant song. But I'm following through GFC and google+. I won't miss out on getting a dose of music I'd never experience otherwise. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

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  2. WOW Robyn, both of your encounters and sharing a strong moment with strangers are beautifully written! Even in the horror of the earthquake, and your obvious courage getting to your mom, I almost felt as if I was there with you! And I even shed a tear!

    Here's to sharing strong emotions with strangers- just a moment in time, that can change our whole day or more.

    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

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    1. Yeah, here's to just a moment in time shared with a stranger. I shake my head and laugh when I think about the butterfly moment and I still get emotional thinking about the bottles clanking against each other almost like I can slip back in time and warn myself about what's about to happen. Thanks for the good words!

      Happy reading, Lexie!

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  3. OMG! This is so beautifully written. It felt like I was reading a book, with the protagonist in deep crisis. And like most books I read, I wished I could reach inside and help. But then I remembered it was you, Robyn. And I smiled at your bravery when I finished reading. :)

    Great post. I'd say this is the second best Think Out Loud I've read here. I still remember the one of with Will standing up for John, and the mean white kid.

    And the post had me thinking, trying to remember if I'd ever shared such unforgettable moments with a stranger.

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    1. Hi Kaykay! That's so nice for you to say that you wanted to reach in and help. I recently read a poem that had me clawing to jump into the words and help. The mean white kid Think Out Loud might be my favorite too. I told my mom that I was writing about the big earthquake and she just said, "oh." I suddenly realized her perspective had to be so much scarier than mine. She's the mom and was trapped on that jerking slippery floor.

      I tried to think back on other stranger encounters, but I came up with situations where I ended up sharing a coffee with the person or spending the weekend hiking with them. These were the only two where the people were imprinted forever in my memory, but they don't have names or faces really.

      Thanks for the good words, Kaykay!

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    2. You're welcome, Robyn. I really like this post. :) I can't think of any of such intense moments I've shared with a total stranger.

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  4. Wow..I'm speechless! That was amazing. You found the perfect way to describe your story. Like I was reading a part from beautifully written book. I could feel everything you said. It must have been too intense.
    I don't think I ever heard anyone else sharing a story like this. I'm jealous of your kids. I bet they hear beautiful stories everyday, right? :)
    This is a great post.

    P.S I don't think that I've ever shared a moment with a stranger like this. It must be a unique experience.

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    1. Aw, thank you, Athina. Will (my 11 yr old) says all the time, "Tell me more about you, Mom." It's never enough. He wants one more story. John (my 4 yr old) wants me to make up stories that star him, but lately he's taken over. "Mom, I have a story. I have a story." "Okay, John. I'm listening." "When I was in jail-" "Jail?" "Yes, Mom. When I was in jail, I got out to come get you." Hmm.

      Oh, and it's certainly a unique experience. The earthquake happened nearly 20 years ago and I'm still right there looking at that man and stating the obvious.

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    2. This is so cute.
      I think John is starting to love mama's passion. :)

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  5. What a crazy story. I love how you give us tidbits about what life is like on Guam with the zories and such. I'm so sorry that you were in this earthquake. It sounds like quite a wild ride. Thank you for sharing it with us. Jaclyn @ JC's Book Haven.

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    1. Look at you not feeling good and still stopping by and commenting. It was a wild ride for sure. I always thought the smaller ones were fun. We had so many quiet ten second shakes I never imagined a big one or that it could last over 60 seconds. Do they have quakes in Texas?

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  6. That's really intense! Those moments sound like scenes from a movie. The moment you locked eyes with the man during the earthquake reminded me of the scene in Titanic (the 1996 remake) when half of the ship is vertical and about to sink. Jack and Rose climb over the gate or else they'd fall. Rose locks eyes with a girl right before the girl loses her grip and falls into the water.

    The way you described it really had me enthralled. I'm glad you and your mom ended up safe and okay. You're a natural storyteller, not to say this was a story but you know what I mean. :)

    P.S. ~ Glad I'm not the only one with a son who makes up wild stories about "being in jail." LOL! ;) I love it when my son tells me about the time he was by a volcano when it erupted.

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    1. That is so funny about your storytelling boy! On our drive to school in the morning we can see Mt. Rainier in all it's glory. I tell the boys it's a sleeping volcano so "sh, don't wake it up." I'm messing them up big time.

      I think they put those scenes in movies because time slows down so much in those moments. The whole island thought the earthquake lasted at least ten minutes because so much happened. Then the radio said it was just a minute (which turned out to be a really long time in terms of quakes) and we refused to believe it. We, as in everyone! "No way, not a minute. Those scientists in California weren't here. They don't know."

      Enjoy The Purge crazy girl!

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  7. Oh wow Robyn. That was just woah. Thank you so much for participating in Think Out Loud. I can't wait to see your posts every week. They are intense and beautiful and honest. Thank you for writing!

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    1. Wow, Think! Thank you for the good words. I really love this meme. I wouldn't forget moments like the butterfly-stranger or my sad collection of bad dates, but sharing them this way is really neat. When I tell a story, people don't want descriptions, they want the punchline. Readers are more patient. Donnie Darko Girl has her TOL up this week too. That crazy girl is going to see The Purge.

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    2. I am crazy, lol. And it wasn't scary, I promise. It was more of a thriller. The idea of a purge becoming a reality is what's scary. Eep! :O

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  8. Hey Rob, you were right about the crying. I did quite a bit of it reading the blog. I also remember that day, I had three broken bones in my right arm and was at home with Manny waiting for you guys to come back when it hit. I remember that Manny, being a huge guy, and me standing under that kitchen door frame for a few seconds before the China cabinet starting moving towards the big glass round table, he braced himself against it to stop the rocking. It was scary for us too. We didn't know where you and mom were.
    I don't think I have ever had a moment like that with a stranger. It truly is something magical, mysterious and memorable. Love ya, chica.

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    1. Manny saved the day with that cabinet. First the doors were glass. The shelves were filled with crystal. And the table top was a huge sheet of glass. All of it would have landed on the marble floor! I would have stayed outside until the glass was picked up. Nope, just made myself dizzy thinking about the cleanup. Moving on. Sidekick this weekend is "my way or the highway." Get busy. hehe

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