What do Earthquakes mean to San Franciscans

What does it mean for a San Franciscan to live in a city where the possibility of an earthquake is ever present? It means earthquakes become our miracle workers. Some people might view them in fear… perhaps your landlord would be one of them. But overall, trust me, they are seen as your excuse out of homework, employment, relationships… anything. More than often I’ve heard these, “I wish an earthquake would come and rip open the hardwood floors and swallow that cocaine tray,” or “I wish an earthquake would come and destroy the school’s housing so I would become unemployed again,” and my favorite one… “I wish the big one hits her on the bridge.”

My roommate had this crazy idea that the big one would actually hit us during the San Francisco 1906 Earthquake Anniversary. She was devising a scape route of jumping out from a window, into a bush, and then crawl down to the sidewalk. I, of course, thought all of this was completely ridiculous, until they showed images on TV of our street on fire during the 1989 earthquake. After that, we both freaked out… for the whole night.

My nun friend from England lives in Berkley… cheap nice place, sitting right on the fault. What does she wish for? For the big one to hold off. And ya know, I do too. It would be a shame for all her nice 1950s china to get swallowed by cranky Mother Earth on PMS.

Overall, I think Earthquakes make San Francisco more of a charming city… and I don’t mean this in a touristic sort of way, but from a magical realistic perspective. Earthquakes just make sure the door of possibility stays open. The possibility of your wishes or nightmares coming true at the blink of an eye.