A little shakey, but I’ll be alright

I just experienced my first earthquake.

I was just sitting at my computer, staring into the Facebook void and contemplating bed when I started to hear a strange rumble-rattling noise. At first I thought it was the squirrels in the attic causing a ruckus, but to make a room shake like that they’d have to be some pretty goddamn heavy squirrels!

The room really started to shake and I realized this must be an earthquake. I looked out my window and saw other students looking out their windows. No answers there.

I remember everything shaking, the bottle of lotion on my desk about to teeter over. My first instinct was to protect my computer. I sortof leaned over it, though I’m not sure exactly what that was meant to accomplish.

I kept remembering that during an earthquake you’re supposed to stand in a doorway or something, but I didn’t want to leave my computer. It was all plugged in, and in the middle of a upload to my photo gallery! (This is where it becomes clear how sick my priorities are…)

I guess I learned something about myself: that in an emergency, I can be counted on to be indecisive and do nothing. Nothing except make a half-hearted attempt to safeguard the electronic foundations of my so-called life.

And then my desk lamp tipped over. And after what felt like 15 minutes, but was actually only 10 or 15 seconds, it stopped. Now if only I could get my legs and fingers to stop shaking.

***

The earthquake’s magnitude is reported to be a 4.7, here, and a 5.3 by the BBC, the biggest quake in England since 1984!