Two Days After An Aftershock

(Published out of sequence...lost this post for a few days, it was written on February 24, 2011)

I've heard it said that three days after surgery is the worse pain.  Only a dented brain would contemplate having the worse day ever!

In order to undent this brain, it's time to vacate the premises.  Not because of fear of day three, but because it is a good enough time to take a few traumatized folk out of the fold and fling them into an environment that does not rock and roll, so they can all return and feel right about it.

We're going south...south to Cromwell and Clyde to stay at a friend's bach and listen to silence, not statistics that cannot be changed by us, the three fleeing for a few days.  Clark, Clive and Kathy are going south together to get ready for the storm of reality that everyone in Christchurch, New Zealand will be feeling for a long time after day three and the pain of the surgery they have received.

The aftershock on February 22, 2011 right before 1:00 PM was the aftershock that felt like an earthquake, no, an atomic bomb, that other aftershocks are yet to come when we all realize that we live somewhere permanently unstable.  I am not silly enough to believe that only Cantabrians feel this. 

Let's face it, since September 4th, 2010 there have been 4,000 aftershocks to the original quake, to which this one last tuesday was the grim reaper of the pristine record Christchurch had for five months and then, POW, take that, take that and really THINK about it.

Bodies all over the place, in a state of permanent rest or testimony to the natural acts of violence the world can project anytime, any place, anywhere instantaneously, there is no defense other than I didn't do it, it did it to me, aftershocked us throroughly just in case we didn't get it the first time. 

When we return, we hope that we can bring our special talents to the forefront that will enable all who will choose to remain in Christchurch no matter what and rebuild a world where residents and visitors alike will feel at home again.  How can this happen after the sudden eviction of life, liberty and happiness that 4,000 plus one really mean aftershock can herald?

We feel like people without power over anything in their lives anymore, no, just for the moment, I am sure of this.  As Cantabrians, we will rise up like the phoenixes I knew they were when first I met them eight years ago. Kiwi's cannot fly away, they have to stay and make it better.

Meanwhile, Clark, Clive and Kathy are going walk about, just for a little time, and since a little time is nothing compared to a long time to come, we will return and do our part in the clean-up, but for now, when there is nothing we can do but make our own selves better, this is what we must do to reclaim a homecoming that will surely be a testimony of will and reserve that one can always find from Central Otago and bring back to Canterbury.