Caught in the Eye of Fear Tonight

I had just set the water sprinklers on the front and back lawns. We sat down to eat our grilled pork chops, fresh asparagus, steamed rice with a lovely salad using all fresh greens from the Market. Daddy-O and I were eating on TV trays after a busy, busy work day, enjoying the company of one another and watching the nothingness of NBC re-runs when an Emergency Broadcast blared that ugly panic sound and messages rolled and flashed across the screen… TSUNAMI WARNING ISSUED FOR DUTCH HARBOR FOLLOWING A 7.3 PRELIMINARY MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE THAT STRUCK 20 MILES SOUTHEAST OF AMUTKA PASS… that is exactly where Kristen is, in Dutch Harbor getting ready to board the US Coast Guard Cutter Healy for another scientific research trip. I immediately was able to reach her via our cell phones. She was napping thankfully on board the ship which was still in the harbor. I had reached her before she had heard what was happening and as we were talking all hell broke loose as the emergency warning system went into effect for all of Dutch Harbor and on board the ship. The worst part was I could hear the emergency sirens blaring in the background while Kristen was running to find her lab mate so they could await further safety instructions. She could see the “coasties” running to board the boat who hd been on shore leave, residents of Dutch Harbor fleeing for higher ground all while the horrible sound of the sirens were wailing. She could see little kids in pajamas running to higher ground, cars going 80 mph trying to reach the highest parts of the island, everybody exiting the town any way they could. The entire fleet of fishing trawlers and boats were trying to leave the harbor desperate to reach deeper water. Kristen had to hang up and called seconds later to report that the Tusanami was due to hit in 26 minutes! She had to go again and would call me back as soon as she could. I felt like I was going to throw up. I surfed all the available web sites for information and 15 minutes into the dreaded 26 minutes the Tsunami warning was cancelled. I still feel like I’m going to throw up my pork chop and my cocktail(s) are sitting at the top of my throat. Tears spilled from my eyes and Derek hugged me. All I could visualize is the Japanese man who rode out the horrific Tsunami in Japan aboard his large fishing boat. Kristen called me back and said the worst part was watching the exodus from aboard their huge vessel feeling helpless. As we hung up, I said “I love you -be safe” having a bit more meaning tonight.

On a less dramatic note, here is a sculpture I made this week after being inspired by one of my Hosta's finally coming up. I was supposed to be knee deep in production work but just had to make something inspired from Nature. Interesting that is was something from the ground and not the sea...

Sending Prayers to Japan

Waves of tsunami hit residences after a powerful earthquake in Natori, Miyagi prefecture (state), Japan, Friday, March 11, 2011. The largest earthquake in Japan's recorded history slammed the eastern coast Friday. Kyodo News

Alaska is no stranger to earthquakes but the massive earthquake that struck Japan late Thursday triggered a tsunami which swept along the Alaska coastline from the Aleutian chain to Southeast Alaska Friday morning, causing no reports of damage but fear and concern among many people. Tokyo bound flights were diverted to Anchorage International Airport as Japan continues to assess the devastation from the 8.9 quake. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the Japanese people, especially Anchorage's sister city of Chitose, Japan.

Euan Craig is a potter living north of Tokyo in a small, rural community of Mashiko, Tochigi. With aftershocks occurring as he writes this post, he is thankful he and his family are safe but many are not…

Here is his post in part. “…ran the seven hundred yards to the primary school, the children were already in the middle of the...the house shakes again as I write...play ground, the teachers herding them to safety. The children are crying and... my god that is another earthquake...it's OK, we thought we might need to get the kids out of their beds...that wasn't an after shock, that was another earthquake...the teachers were trying to contact people on their mobiles but there was no service. I can see Canaan and Rohan, they are safe. The ground is still moving like a raft, the teachers tell me parts of the ceiling have fallen in the school but the children and staff are all evacuated accounted for and safe. Rohan's teacher has a son at the pre school with Sean, I tell her I am going there and tell the boys to stay with their teachers. I run.”

Special thanks to Hollis Engly for Euan’s link.