I haven't written a diary here in a few years and this isn't much of one now but I just need to get out my thoughts in some way.
I live with my wife (a US citizen, which is a major reason I follow this site) and two children in the city which has been shattered by an earthquake nearly 100 hours ago leaving probably 300+ dead, thousands homeless, and thousands more jobless. So far I barely "knew" three people among the deceased or missing (and almost certainly gone) but didn't really know any of them directly. Two distant co-workers I'd only met once and swapped a "hey how's it going" with, and one friend of a friend.
Just today I've learned of someone else I did know a little more directly, claimed by this.
I hadn't spoken to him in maybe 15 or 20 years, and maybe wouldn't have recognized him across a street, but I'm still filled with even more sadness than I already have had in the past few days to now find human loss at one fewer degree of separation.
He worked with my Dad for years, until maybe 20 years or so ago. He loved cycling, as I do now (although I think he preferred the fast kind in cycling gear and I love the slow kind in regular clothes) and he was crushed in his car - probably about to get out of it for a shop errand or about to drive away. I don't want to say any more about him than that, because it's not my place to do so and I didn't know him well enough to do more words justice.
I'm not sure if my Dad knows yet. He's driving to Christchurch today from a city five hours away to help people. I doubt he'll stop at our house as we have no need of assistance. I will inform him as soon as I can I speak to him next if he hasn't heard.
In my immediate family we are so grateful for how we have fared through this. Our suburb has survived well, we have electricity and water and no supply problems, no liquefaction silt to shovel. My wife was in the badly damaged city centre close to levelled buildings that still cover bodies in rubble, but was unhurt. My job is waiting for me on Monday. We're doing what we can to help others in the neighborhood but most are, like us, doing fine. It's gut-wrenching to know of the grief of others in addition to coming to terms with the cultural heart of our wonderful city smashed, destroyed homes and livelihoods, while practically everyone I consider family or a close friend is getting through this with relative ease.
These events change people. After the first big quake here back last September my youngest child was screaming and crying at every small aftershock, now everyone in my house is calm through even the shallow 4-point-something aftershocks that freak out visitors to the city. We've just been through them too many times to worry about the harmless ones. Just earlier she saw some images of destroyed iconic places we've visited many times and turned and said to me, "Dad, I hate earthquakes because they hurt people and buildings and things." I hadn't cried in the 100 hours yet but had to a little at that.
Kia kaha.