Atlas shrugged, my family closed ranks

When our friend called, we didn't take the earthquake seriously. Beijing had experienced minor earthquakes before, but they hadn't caused much havoc. When my sister called, I realized this was serious.

She was working in an office building in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, and hurried downstairs after the first tremors. "The mud seemed to be boiling in the ponds," she said.

When she reached her daughter's primary school, she found all the students waiting for their parents in the playground. A few were crying. She hurried toward her parents-in-law, who said they would spend the night in the open.

I searched online for the latest news, while my mother stayed glued to the television. Her hometown is Jiangjin, a district of Chongqing, some 260 km from Chengdu. Before she could reach any of her relatives at home, it was time for us to fetch my son from the kindergarten.

To my relief, the children seemed happy and boisterous as usual. Back home, mom was very upset that her sister had just called. My mother is the eldest of seven siblings. My fifth aunt, who lives in a 14-story apartment building by the Yangtze River, said she almost rolled off the bed.

She blamed it on her dizziness, but heard people rushing and crying in the corridor. Hearing of the earthquake, she grabbed two bags of valuables and rushed out. Wearing pajamas and slippers, she had to hold on fast to the railings as the building seemed to sway.

My parents didn't say much at the dinner table, while we talked about the latest postings on online communities. Late at night, mom still couldn't reach my second aunt, who stays in the old rural house with my grandma. Exasperated, she scolded my naughty son.

"Are you talking about an earthquake?" my 3-year-old looked puzzled. "The sky and the earth crack, the river runs upstream," he quoted from an old tale we often told him at night. "That's a legend, don't worry," I reassured him.

My husband said the Japanese were always ready for natural disasters, such as earthquake, typhoons and fires. "If something happens and we lose contact, the whole family must try to reach one place," he suggested.

We agreed that the small park facing my son's kindergarten was a good choice. It is close to the road, a hospital and markets. Most of all, if we were not there, my parents could take care of my son among the many acquaintances in that area.

Early in the morning, I woke up hearing my mom talking excitedly over the phone. My grandma was alright. She was playing mahjong with old neighbors when the stool "jumped". "She was angry that the stool had disobeyed her and gave it a whack," my aunt said. They stayed up till midnight but fell asleep and felt nothing till morning.

My mom smilingly accompanied us to the kindergarten. The teachers informed us about the measures the school had taken to fight the hand-foot-mouth disease. "We will tell you immediately if anyone is found affected," she said, adding that the railings, toys and tables were sterilized twice everyday.

What an eventful year, I thought. But I have never felt so close to my dear family and my homeland before.

(China Daily 05/14/2008 page20)