Shake, Shake, Shake

So, it has been quite a week. Nearly one week ago (April 18) at 5:30 a.m., the earth beneath us shook. The Midwest is certainly no stranger to earthquakes, but in the same sense, we don't have them every day. This one was the second largest earthquake the area has had in 40 years - 5.2 magnitude. In fact, it was only the third one I ever remember living through.

I remember the 1987 earthquake. It was a 5.1 magnitude, and I remember thinking "What the heck was that?" My mom ran outside because she thought my sister and her friend had done "something". I was so little (8 years old) that I barely remember it, but I do remember the earth shook.

The next one we had after that was in 2002. I remember being at work when I felt it. It was a 4.6 magnitude. I worked in a place where about 20 people or so used the same printer, and if we were printing something important, we would run to the printer to get our printout. That is what it felt like, but when I looked up, there was no one standing. Very weird!

This one came in the very early morning hours. Lee had gotten up to use the bathroom, and he had just laid back down in bed. The bed started to shake pretty bad. At first I thought the kitties were fighting under the bed, which is not that unusual. But it just kept going, and no kitties were even in the room. I ran down to the garage and basement to make sure nothing else was going on. After that, I couldn't get back to sleep, so I got on the USGS website and called my mom. Yep, it was an earthquake. I turned on the TV and watched some coverage. Thankfully no major damage was reported.

About 11:15 a.m., we had a larger aftershock - a 4.5 magnitude. It rumbled the ground but wasn't nearly as volatile as the original quake. In all, there have been dozens of aftershocks, many of which cannot be felt my most people. We’ve all been lucky; although, we know a bigger one could happen at any time.

Also, this week I finished graduate school!!!!!!!! I had my very last class and turned in my very last paper. Next Friday, I will go through my Hooding Ceremony, and all of my family will get to see me graduate with my master’s degree. It seems surreal, but I’m so glad the end is here.

Hopefully this week will be a little less shaky………………