When on Twitter I heard about the recent earthquake in Puerto Rico, which happened at the same time as an Austrian daily, obviously in its own bubble, was saying that seismic activity had lessened, I had to write to a dear longstanding cybermate and friend to wish him and his family well. He gave me permission to reproduce his answer here on my blog. A line that stood out for me as we privileged ones in our comfortable abodes are focussing on death tolls and tracing was:
“Living with all this shit is so much harder.”
Thank you, friend, for your perspective. May it help us to make those changes so sorely needed.
“We were all awakened this morning by a strong jolt. Our youngest, Asier (13) came running in to our bedroom for reassurances. Yeah, it was a pretty good jolt, but even worse for those in the epicenter.
Here’s a pretty good article in English, along with the best picture I’ve seen that shows our reality.
Mayita Melendez via Twitter
From the picture you can see that the rebar held. Puerto Rico, for many decades has followed seismic building codes appropriate for our region. This means that most homes and buildings may become uninhabitable but won’t pancake and kill you. They’ll wind up like this building in the picture, ruined. The lives of the people who own it, work in it, use it, are drastically changed for the worse, but they’re alive.
This is the reality for Puerto Rico since Maria. Even though over 2,000 people were killed as a result of Maria, it could have been SO much worse but for good building codes and a resilient people. Most people are at least alive having struggled through hurricanes, earthquakes, political unrest, economic meltdown, and covid-19.
It’s the pressing on that’s tough. What do you do when all you have to live in is your house? You’ve now lost your job or are no longer receiving a pay-check because of Covid-19. No home. No job.
The mayor of Guánica (epicenter) said, “Porque ya lo hemos perdido todo, ya no hay más que caiga al piso” – “Because we have already lost everything, there’s nothing else to do but fall to the floor.”
It breaks my heart, because most people are just focused on death tolls. Living with all this shit is so much harder.
I think, too, this Covid-19 thing is exposing really truly how fragile our societies are. We’re going to have to make some changes going forward.
Stay safe, Sylvia. Give everybody a hug for me.”
On that note, may I wish onwards as always, but in a hopefully new direction.
It shows that the richest thing in our lives is – other people, not belongings.
Indeed, Pat.
Thank you, a much needed shift in perspective for all of us living in relatively comfortable, insulated bubbles.
And thank you for reading and commenting, Marina Sofia.
Very best wishes to your friend in Puerto Rico. I hope they stay safe and well, and that times get easier there.
Thanks for your words, Tracey. He will surely see them.