Eight long days have passed since the Great Mexicali Earthquake of 2010. Eight long days and perhaps 800 aftershocks ranging from 5+ on the Richter Scale on down.

Every few hours an aftershock – when will it all end?

Friends from as far away as San Diego and Phoenix have felt Mexicali’s aftershocks, and have called to ask how are we doing.

We are doing just fine. However, it has been a whale of a lot of work getting our house back in shape. Luckily there was no structural damage that we are aware of, but what a mess, inside!

Not everyone got off so easy, however. A total of 5,000 families in and around Mexicali lost their homes due to the earthquake.

“We need help in getting hold of tents, because many of these people are going to live in emergency shelters for several weeks while we build new homes for more than 5,000 families in need,” Baja California Governor Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan said, adding that he had already begun receiving help.

Osuna pointed out that Sunday’s quake was the worst on record in Baja California. The last strong quake was 1940’s magnitude 7. 1.

Tents have taken over the parking lot of the Iglesia Apostolica de la Fe en Cristo Jesus, a church in Mexicali, since Sunday, when the earthquake struck.

“We saw the mountains shaking and dust rose as if somebody was moving them,” said Arturo Macias, pastor of the church who has been trying to calm fears among worshipers since the earthquake. Many of his flock consider the earthquake to be a warning from Jesus.

All 300 patients were evacuated from the Mexicali General Hospital because damage to the building, which was also without electricity and water. Some patients were taken to private clinics but others had to be placed in tents.

The parking garage at Mexicali’s City Hall collapsed but no one was injured. A miracle!

Still, scientists agree that, in contrast to Haiti, where a lesser 7.0 magnitude earthquake caused thousands of deaths, Mexicali was spared the worst, in part by better construction standards.

This is stuff you don’t see on the U.S. news. One of our kind readers sent us a link to a set of photos that show just how bad it is for the poor folks who have lost their homes.

Folks on both sides of the border are still checking out the damage and trying to repair shattered nerves.

Caltech and the U.S. Geological Survey, called the aftershocks “robust.” Well, who didn’t know that?

And guess what? Those Caltech guys say they have no idea of how to predict an earthquake!

A 4.5 earthquake hit early Saturday morning around where the 7.2 hit and woke up people in San Diego, Palm Springs and southern Orange County.

On Sunday, four quakes measuring above magnitude 4.0 struck in a three-hour period, doing little physical damage but adding to the emotional toll of the never-ending quakes.

Living in Mexicali is like living on a boat.

Across the border, in Calexico, public schools are closed until they get some plan for the 800 students from Jefferson Elementary School, which is considered too badly damaged for use. Two Catholic schools in Calexico will be closed for two days.

The grand old De Anza hotel, once a playground for the Hollywood stars, was so damaged that it may have to be torn down. The hotel now serves as a residence for old folks, all of whom have been moved out.

Caltech says the Mexicali earthquake adds to the unusual number of strong shakes reported around the world this year, particularly in Haiti and Chile.

“Shucks,” said Jim, “all these aftershocks really begin to get to you.”

“What’s an aftershock?” asked Matthew.

“It’s another earthquake,” I answered.

“Another earthquake? When will it ever end?” asked Matthew.

“No way of knowing – even them Caltech genius guys ain’t gotta clue.”

“Jim, what do you think is going to happen?” asked Matthew.

“One of three things, as I see it.”

“C’mon Jim, you’re just gonna frighten us,” I said.

Jim continued, “Either they stop…”

“Yes,” nodded Matthew.

“Or the earth splits a bit, and the Sea of Cortez comes right on up to Mexicali.”

“Water?” said Matthew.

“Yeah, we could wind up livin on the beach – or on the bottom of the sea,” said Jim calmly.

“Oh my God,” yelled Matthew, “That’s the worst thing anyone could imagine.”

“Well, not quite,” said Jim, with a slight smile.

Now, I was getting interested, so I asked, “Yeah, just what would be worse.”

Jim sat down in his easy chair, and smiled. “Fission – I read about it in this here Christian book, Astronomy and the Bible – it explains that all science is already in the Bible – gives examples, too.”

“Fission?” said Matthew.

“Yeah, fission theory says that the moon split off from the earth like mud thrown off of a truck’s tire and left a huge hole in the earth.”

“A huge hole? What huge hole?” I asked.

“The Pacific Ocean,” answered Jim calmly.

That’s what I so much admire about Jim – he just seems to know everything.

“Yeah,” answered Jim, “and just maybe that’s what happening with all these darn earthquakes – maybe we are gonna split open and throw off a new baby moon.”

“Oh, that’s nuts,” I said, scared out of my mind.

“And what would happen to us?” asked Matthew.

Jim thought a bit, and then answered, “Guess we would be livin somewheres out there in outer space on a new moon.”

It was Easter Sunday April 5, 2010. Jim and Matthew had just left to go to Home Depot at 3.30pm.

I was alone in our bedroom reading a book when the light in the bathroom went out. After several seconds, all of a sudden, the ground began to shake. I checked our little bedside clock – it was 3.40pm.

There was a low rumble, and then floor started to shake. Quickly, I bounced out of bed as the shaking of the floor increased and stood in the doorway to the bathroom – just like Jim had told me to do. I stood, with both my arms holding onto the walls. The entire house was now shaking, vibrating, and trembling at such an angry rate that things began to fall off the shelves.

It was just like someone had grabbed whole of our bedroom and shook it up and down, sideways, and tilting it all over the place!

I was terrified! I thought of my husband, Jim, and Matthew, and our kids. I looked at the ceiling and I thought will it collapse?

I started to say the Lord’s Prayer,

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.

I heard the lady next door howl out as I heard the sound of heavy items falling down in our house. Like me, she must have thought the house was going to collapse.

After a good ten minutes give and take, the shaking started to subside. And then the aftershocks started.

I heard the front door open. It was Jim, shouting out my name. Jim stood under the doorway to our bedroom, and calmly said, “Maryann, come over here now.” I put on my slippers and walked quickly towards him. We held hands and walked out of our house by the front gate and jumped into our truck which was parked outside. The garage door was not working because there was no electricity.

“Oh, thank God, you came back so quickly!” I cried.

“Yes Hon’, said Jim, “The earthquake struck just we were driving and turning the corner. The truck began to swerve around. I thought it was a flat tire, so I pulled over, and turned off the engine. Well, no sooner had I done that than the truck starts bouncin up and down. I joked to Matthew, that our truck was acting like a darn Toyota.”

Jim turned, and looked back to Matthew, “Didn’t I say that Matthew?”

Matthew didn’t respond – he looked like he was frozen, and was as pale as a ghost.

Jim continued, “So, I got out to look! No flat tire, but the road was really shakin, and the truck was still bouncin – right Matthew?”

No sound came from Matthew.

“Shucks,” said Jim, I knew it was an earthquake so we came right back home – swervin and bouncin all the way – “Right, Matthew?”

Matthew now was covering his eyes with both hands.

At this point, Matthew and I were too stunned to talk.

The earthquake had stopped, and Jim just drove around the streets to see what had happened.

When we hit Justo Sierra, the fancy shopping street. The people were all standing outside – even at La Farmacia la Mas Barata, all the pharmacists were standing outside.
We continued to drive. All the traffic lights were out – there were no lights, anywhere. The lights in the stores and restaurants were off, and people were standing calmly in the street.

Just as we passed a large building, we saw a huge piece of wood and plaster fall off from the front of the building to the sidewalk. Luckily, no one was there.

Many of the large display windows were broken in the banks, the fancy shops, and furniture stores. Broken glass was all over the place.

Here it was – Easter Sunday, and there was an eerie silence all over town! I noticed that the normally daring Mexicali drivers had become very subdued and polite, and stopped at the traffic lights, even though the lights weren’t working. Vehicles passed each other with uncommon and silent courtesy.

I said to Jim and Matthew, “Let’s get some ice cream! I really could use a sugar fix right now!” Jim pulled over at an OXXO store; hopped out and went to door of the store. No ice cream – the employees had locked themselves in, and we could see fear in their eyes! After all, it was Easter Sunday, a holy day in Mexico’s Roman Catholics. I asked Jim, “What do you think people are thinking since this is a Holy Day!”

“God’s will…” said Jim. I turned to look at Matthew. He was silent, his eyes were closed, and he was praying – first time I had seen him pray.

We passed the Pemex gas station and it was closed. Jim turned around, and we headed back. When we stopped at our house, we saw that the neighbor across the street was selling capirotada – a special bread pudding for Lent. Capirotada is made of toasted bread soaked in syrup, sugar, cheese, raisins, and walnuts – it is spiced with cinnamon, and nutmeg, but no custard.

These are native ingredients, and are the recipe dates from the 1600s.

Capirotada is viewed by many Mexicans as a symbol of the suffering of Christ on Good Friday.

“Here’s just what we all need!” I said, getting out of the truck.

The lady, Lulu, selling the capirotada in front of her house, spoke perfect English, as did her brother, Mario. He had just been on his cell phone to San Diego. After hellos, Mario said, “This is the biggest earthquake Mexicali I have ever felt. Our friends up in San Diego even felt it!”

We bought three capirotadas from Lulu at only $3.00 each (each one must be a thousand calories). Handing us the capirotadas, Lulu said, “Listen, if you all need anything, water or anything, just come over.”

“The problem is the electricity. We are now waiting to see how fast the government is going to get it fixed,” said Mario.

“Let’s hope soon,” said Jim, and added, “Nice folks,” as we crossed the street back to our house.

Like most of the people in Mexicali, none of our neighbors seemed worried or upset.

Matthew was still in the back seat of the truck – staring out the window.

“Hey, Matthew,” I said, “I’ve got something pretty good for you.”

“Yes,” said Matthew, turning slowly in my direction.

“It’s a delicious sweet – special for Lent – called capirotada; you will love it,” I said.

Matthew snapped out of his funk and smiled from ear to ear, got out of the truck, and asked, “Which one’s for me?”

Back home, we were happy to find no real damage, just items that fell off the shelves – and our rack with all the computer stuff on it fallen against our work table.

“I’ll just set it all up, again,” said Jim. He’s really great that way! Hardly ever loses his cool.

The three of us sat down and ate our capirodadas, enjoying every bite of it. The sugar fix made us all think clearly. Matthew started giggling over the slightest things.

I searched for my box of emergency candles, and began lighting them. Darkness was coming.

By candlelight, we cooked up some pasta with some left-over meat sauce. Dinner was good. Must have been the candlelight! From outside, we heard great Mexican music coming from Mario’s car stereo.

There were still aftershocks, and there still are!

Exhausted, we finally went to sleep; I woke up after a strong aftershock swayed our bedroom. “Jim, wake up! Did you feel the aftershock?”

“Huh…yes, I’m here, zzzzzzzzz.” Jim went back to sleep.

The next day, Monday, April 6, 2010, the electricity came back on in the morning.

When the TV came on we learned that the  Mexicali earthquake was 7.2 on the Richter scale and that the epicenter was just 36 miles from our house at Guadalupe Victoria in Mexicali Valley. We found out later that Mexicali had suffered some serious damage on its roads and it was reported that six houses burned and a three story parking lot under construction collapsed and power was suspended city-wide until this morning.

The Governor, Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan, has declared a State of Emergency for all of Baja California.

Jim even managed to get the trash out for the Monday pickup.

We are fine, just tired and a little shaken up. Our dog, Rex, and our two cats, Moss and Twiggy are all OK as well.

After all the excitement, we just relaxed watched TV, and the Tiger Woods interview.

Just another day in Mexicali.

Things have been slow, this Holiday Season, even for Mexicali.

It was a little after 10:30 in the morning and I was watching my favorite show on TV – Two and a Half Men.

I don’t really care much for what Charlie Sheen has been up to in real life, but, on the show he is really terrific – so good that, sometimes, even Jim will watch.

It was the calm before the storm, so to speak. One could say “Twas like the night before Christmas, when all through the house…Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse” – when all hell broke loose!

There was a rumble, and the house started shaking, and swaying, and swaying, then it kept on swaying. Matthew ran screaming out of his bedroom.

Jim came out of the bathroom, and shouted, “MaryAnn, Matthew, come here – we gotta stand under the doorway!”

Matthew said, “Are we gonna die? What if the earth splits open like in the movies!”

“Just keep quiet,” said Jim with a bit of nervousness in his voice.

Our dog, Rex, and the cats, Moss and Twiggy, didn’t do anything.  We thought animals had some kind of special way of sensing earthquakes, but not our guys.

Well, nothing fell, except for the coffee pot on the stove, and the house stood up great. I guess with all the earthquakes here, they know how to build houses that can take it.

Yes, folks, it was an earthquake, and a big one, rated as 5.8 on the Richter scale, and it started at 10:28:57am. It lasted only about 30 seconds, but it seemed much longer.

The center of the earthquake was just 23 miles south of Mexicali – which is where most of our earthquakes take place.

Why? Because that’s where the volcano is.

Yes, there is a volcano south of Mexicali, and it’s called the Cerro Prieto Volcano.

No one knows when the volcano last erupted, but the experts say it was probably within the past 10,000 years – so maybe we’re safe. We’ve driven by the volcano. Nearby is a geothermal plant to generate electricity.

Jim tells me the process is simple, “They just pump water down into some kinda special wells, and the steam gushes out.”

“Well, how does that make electricity?” I asked.

Jim thought a second, and said, “Turbines, and stuff.”

I like the fact that Jim always knows a lot of technical stuff like standing under doorways.

So it’s on to New Year.  Since there is too much traffic and waiting time to go across the border, we will be in Mexicali.

As usual, we have planned ahead, and it is going to be a big surprise for Matthew. First we are going to our favorite restaurant, Sonorense.

Then, and it is a secret from Matthew – we are going to take him to the movies – to see Avatar – Matthew’s gonna freak!