Disaster in my Wake

If I am ever in your neighborhood you should probably leave with me when I go, because chances of a natural disaster striking that area appear to be pretty good. And natural disasters tend to happen where I am not, with the exception of that hurricane in the DC area back in 2003. That got me out of two whole days of work giving me a four day weekend with no electricity. Yipee! And even that was more like just a really bad Midwestern thunderstorm where I lived in Bethesda.

When I moved to California I started waiting for my first earthquake. The week I left for my Arizona vacation was the week earthquakes big enough to feel hit CA, and I missed them. Hell, there was even a tsunami warning? Crazy. Anyway, I’ve still yet to feel a single earthquake.

And now that I’m back here in CA the area I was visiting around Phoenix, AZ last week is now ablaze with wildfires. WTF?

I lived through many, many tornado watches and warnings in Wisconsin without ever seeing a single cyclone. And it’s not like I didn’t try. I used to love thunderstorms as a kid. My mother always had to be a spoilsport and drag me inside when there was a chance of tornados. How are you supposed to see the tornado when you’re under the stairs inside the house?

I know I should probably be grateful and all, but I secretly want the excitement and drama that I know only natural disasters and severe weather can bring. I’ll probably be singing a different tune when I’m climbing out from under the rubble after the BIG ONE (knock on wood).