Rob Mercatante's Guatemala Journal: a roll in the sack

May 30, 2005

a roll in the sack

I was sleeping soundly in my bed this morning when my girlfriend reached over and gave me a gentle shake.

"I'm awake, I'm awake" I groaned. I glanced at the clock... 5:12 am.

"What the heck?", I demanded. And then it hit me... I don't have a girlfriend.

Slowly it dawned on me that the shaking wasn't coming from my make-believe sweety, but from the bed itself. And the floor. And the walls. In fact, the whole darn apartment was swaying like crazy.

There is a point during every earthquake tremor when your body tenses in anxious anticipation: is this as bad as it is going to get? Do I relax and enjoy the ride? Or is it time to put on my pants so that the rescue crew doesn't find me in my blue undies?

Thankfully this morning's groove was relatively smooth, another 5.1 on the Richter scale. In fact, I fell right back asleep.

About an hour later I woke up screaming... but that's just because I remembered that it was Monday morning. (Ugh.)

Posted by elcanche at May 30, 2005 03:08 PM

Comments

Congrats Rob, you passed. Yes, that's right, A+. What you have been through in the last couple of months have been preparation and a final exam. You pass with flying colors. You are now certified to come to NY and visit your relatives. Espcially your eagerly awaiting nephews and niece. We know you can handle anything. Good to know. Very good to know. Love ya, sis

Posted by: Vicki at May 30, 2005 05:02 PM

Having...A. been in your "glassy" apartment on the TOP floor of the building and B. been in a "5" earthquake before and C. being the calm and rational person that I am, I just have to say...WHAT THE BLANKETY BLANK WERE YOU THINKING!!! GRAB THE PANTS (please) AND RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Susan at May 30, 2005 07:36 PM

...and you went back to sleep?! (actually I think it runs in the family. The one & only time, thank goodness, we had a quake I remember waking up and thinking, "What's that?" and promptly turned over & went back to sleep. Later I found out the neighbors had all run into the street thinking that their oil burners had blown up!)

Posted by: Mom at May 31, 2005 07:40 AM