The Japan Earthquake - A Wake-Up Call

I turned on my TV today to watch an endless number of reality shows. I tell myself that it’s research for my novels, but we all know the truth. Like soap operas did before, Maury, Judge Lynn Toler, Judge Mathis, and even Oprah keep us hypnotized every day with what is going on with other people. We laugh and shake our heads at the novelty and shameless way people behave on national TV.

What I saw was a tsunami raging through Japan and laying waste everywhere. I watched the throes of a devastating earthquake and tsunami disasters. High-rise buildings swaying back and forth like trees in the wind. Cars, boats and houses were flying through the streets and fields by the force of the tsunami waves of water. People sleeping and huddled packed together on the streets, afraid to go inside from fear of after shocks.

We all knew that an earthquake was imminent. All of the Channel 2 and PBS and Discovery documentaries told us so. Still, seeing it in front of you is different. I felt an inner terror as I watched something more powerful than us throw water and debris around more than three countries.

It put my life into perspective. Charlie Sheen’s antics aren’t so amusing anymore. I don’t care who wins American idol anymore. I don’t remember who won the Oscars. While we are focusing on ‘winning’, Japan Hawaii and the West Coast are losing. People have real lives at stake, and we need to watch that and figure out our place in the world. What is more frightening is the fact that it can and will happen again, someone on this planet.

I hug my cat, and I'm grateful that I'm alive. I feel real fear as I put everything in perspective. The truth is it doesn’t always happen to the other guy.