The other day I was sorting through some papers and came across an e-mail story I received from a survivor of the Alaska Good Friday earthquake. I was fortunate to receive a number of them from placing a post on the Hello Alaska message board. I treasure each and every one of them. The moment of tragedy captured in their words. The emotions leap from the pages and history becomes alive again.

Though Northridge was nothing like that earthquake is was one of the few in the last decade on US soil in a major metropolitan area. Yet 364 days later Kobe was visited by the same gray ghost.

I am so very proud of everyone who posts here and so thankful that Canie has bestowed upon us the gift of space on the internet. To work on what we all believe will one day bridge from here to the public in a new, modern and delicate way may be the greatest achievement in so many ways.

I've lived through quite a number of earthquakes but the one that frightened me the most was one I experienced in San Francisco. I was working in a six story block building that was rather old. As the earthquake began the post hung lights began to move back and forth and the windows made an incredible rattle. I heard the people stuck in the elevator between the floors screaming for help. As the quake rolled on I had to hold onto my desk as my chair kept rolling away from it. At one moment I felt like a trapped rat and wanted to get up and run out of there. But the reassuring voice of my office manager said, "its okay, it will be over in a moment." It happened yesterday, a thousand yesterdays ago, but I'll never forget. Most survivors don't.

Petra