Prayers for John

Hello all!
I have a prayer request. My cousin John was diagnosed with a malignant glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumor in December 2006. He's been fighting it ever since and has truly been a miracle. He started his 33rd round of targeted therapy on 4/18/11, after receiving some not so great news. Please pray for him and for our family. Thank you much!


Me, my sister Alison, and our cousins Michael and John on a visit to Helen, Georgia on April 10th. :)


If you'd like to check out his own 'blog' / caring bridge journal, please do so at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/johnpurvis
Love to you all,
Chelsea

Vegas Baby!

This past Saturday my mom, sister and I took off on a redeye flight from Atlanta to Las Vegas, Nevada. It was one eventful trip with approximately 100 stories to tell, but I’ll just give you the highlights… and even with just the summary… you may be reading awhile.

Saturday my dad (my poor dad) drove us chicks to the airport and dropped us off. We got checked in, had a quick bite to eat, I got my nails painted at a salon in the airport (only $12!) and then we were off!

We landed around 11:30pm on Saturday night (Vegas time). Normally, I’d be close to ready for bed but since we all napped on the plane and were lined with excitement for the Vegas night life we hailed a cab and headed to our hotel with exhilaration.

::Side story:: (there may be a lot of these)
Every cab driver but one wanted to discuss politics, religion or the economy. I viewed them each as a Debbie Downer. One evening upon my arrival in a cab I even announced that we would not be discussing any of the previously mentioned topics, and we could only discuss lighthearted things. He scoffed, and somehow we got a story about the birth of the Sikh religion. Interesting, but in my opinion, not Vegas appropriate.

We got checked into the hotel suite we were sharing with my mom’s good friends Carol Lynn and Wade (THANKS Carol Lynn!!!) and headed down to find a bite to eat. Somehow or another the time had passed since the airport and around 1:30am we found a TGIFriday’s in the hotel that was open until 4am. I ordered buffalo wings and a margarita (hey- we were in Vegas) then we realized how tired we were and went to bed.

I woke up the next morning around 8am with an awful cramping and churning stomach. Wanna guess as to what happened on my first day of vacation? Yes. I got sick. I was sick. As. A. Dog. I ended up spending just about the entire day in the bathroom of my hotel room. If I wasn’t in there, I was in bed. Yes folks, I had 72 hours to spend in Las Vegas and I spent a third of them in my hotel room. It sucked.

Alison and my mom were so bummed for me but at my insistence (of course!) I sent them out and about to enjoy their vacation! (But they came and checked on me a lot!) They had some fun walking the Las Vegas strip and doing other fun Las Vegas-y things. Carol Lynn even took them to see The Temptations (I really shouldn’t have to name anything they sing, you should know but in case you’re blanking… MY GIRL! + many other wonderful hits!). Mike Tyson was there and they got to see him sing a little song. They agreed he should stick to fighting!

So… the next morning was much more eventful for me! I finally had stopped throwing up, had some color to my cheeks and felt like eating. Hooray!

Alison and I before we left for our crazy Monday!


Before we could do anything we had to go pick up the tickets to the Beatles ‘Love’ Cirque Du Solei show! So Alison and I went to the Mirage hotel to pick them up (another annoying cab driver) and we played video poker at a bar where we drank water (honestly!) I lost $2. Not bad.

My sister is a bartender and has a customer/friend named Ed Roland (aka, the lead singer of the ever so popular band Collective Soul) who also happened to be in Las Vegas the same time we were. Ed and his manager Fred invited us to have lunch with them at the pool at the MGM Grand Hotel. So… of course, the pool sounded like a lovely way to recover from my sickness in a semi-low-key kind of way – so we went. They rented a cabana by the pool, which was gorgeous, and we spent the afternoon having lunch, a drink or two, and doing a lap around the pool. The pool was beautiful and was like the ‘Little Hooch’ at White Water here in Atlanta. Sorry if you’re not from ATL. I don’t know how else to explain it!

After the pool someone (aka, Alison) says “let’s go play black jack!” So… off we went into the hotel’s casino and all of a sudden we were sitting at a black jack table. This was no ordinary table and was pretty intimidating! The dealer was trying to be nice and help us but the ‘pit boss’ (you learn new words when you go to Vegas) kept getting really mad at my sister and I for looking at the cards with two hands. We couldn’t help it. It’s instinct. After about 3 hands we were both sitting on one hand so we wouldn’t do it anymore! Eventually we left the table, only a little bit of money down.

Oh! And I can successfully say the first hand I played in Las Vegas- I got a 21! YAY!

AND you would think I would have been totally star struck by Ed’s presence, but he and Fred were super nice and down to earth, and not at all intimidating. The only time I felt baffled was when I was telling them how much I loved the Beatles, and Ed said he had a Paul McCartney autographed guitar. That made me feel butterflies. I want a Paul McCartney autographed guitar!!!

We went back to our hotel room and got dressed for dinner, and grabbed our mom who had been off doing fun things with Wade and Carol Lynn. As we’re headed out the door to go re-join Ed and Fred (I found the rhyming name thing way more confusing than it should have been) my mom says… do you have the Beatles tickets? I check. Nope. I double check. Nope. Triple check. Still not there. Go back into the hotel room and look in the other bag I carried that day—Nope. Then we start looking… and looking… and tearing our hotel room apart for these tickets. And they're Gone! I paid with a credit card so I know that if I show up with my credit card and ID they’ll let us in, but I want to call and confirm this… so I call the number I have listed for the tickets in my e-mail. And it rings, and then I’m on hold. And we’re still looking, and I’m still on hold, and this goes on and on and on… so we finally decide that no one will ever answer.

So we get in a taxi (I’m still on hold) and drive to the Mirage hotel. I am STILL on hold when we arrive. We wait in the will call line. When I am next to be helped someone answers and I just blow up. I believe my words went like this “I have been on hold for 45 minutes and in that time I have physically taken a taxi down to the Mirage hotel and am next to be helped in person. So thank you for being UN-Helpful!” Then I hung up. I am not confrontational often, if ever. It takes a lot of guts for me to stick up for myself… but I was SO mad that I raised my voice to the lady. I feel a little guilty about this. But I will admit it felt good at the time and helped me calm down a bit before I had to talk to a person in person. She said it wouldn’t be a problem, and just come back to the window 15 minutes before the show. See- simple fix. If someone would have just answered the darn phone we would have known that and not wasted $12 on a cab ride there!

So off we went to the Aria hotel. We had a really delicious dinner and watched the Butler Vs. UCONN game. Ouch!

THEN we went back to the Mirage to see the Beatles show! It’s called LOVE and it really was fabulous and the highlight of the trip! When George and I hadn’t been dating long, he got me the soundtrack to this show. At the time I didn’t even know the show existed but it’s a beautiful compilation of 100 plus Beatles songs and it’s magnificently done. Ever since then, my mom and I have talked about going to Las Vegas to see this show! And after oh-- IDK, 4 years(?) of discussing this, we finally made it! It really was everything I could have hoped for (though I expected more acrobatic tricks)…

After the show they were still playing Beatles music in the lobby so we stood there and danced. And we took silly pictures. And danced more. And danced. And danced. And sang. And danced, until literally—we were the last people in the venue. The guy came with the mop and cleaned the floor… so we moved to the carpeted area just outside the entrance where you could still hear Beatles music playing. And we sang. And we danced. After the song “Oh Darling!” the music kind of stopped for a minute, and we got a standing ovation from the people that were in the casino gambling at the slot machines. We all took bows and cracked up, and then danced some more until we were done. I love my mom and sister. They really are the most fun people!

My beautiful mommy and me!


The three of us acting very silly!


Here's my mom with the guy mopping the floor in the background. We seriously shut down the place! HA!


We crashed hard in our room that night and the next morning took our time getting out the door to explore the strip and to take in the last of the sights we didn’t get to see (I still can’t believe I lost a WHOLE day in Vegas because I was sick. Can’t believe that really happened!) We started at Diablo’s restaurant, which is a Mexican Cantina—where we had a delicious lunch, and then walked up and down the street! We went into the M&M store (which has special meaning to George and I) and on a power high from the night before, I yelled at the employees who wouldn’t open a second register, even though there were five… FIVE employees behind the counter standing there chatting instead of working. Ridiculous, I tell ya!

Us at the M&M store!



We took pictures with an out of shape Spiderman, saw the fountain show at the Bellagio, and went inside the Cosmopolitan hotel and took a nap! HA! It was so peaceful! :) THEN, Alison, who the whole trip kept saying “I’m going to the roulette wheel and I’m going to put $100 on black” kind of walked away from us, and the next thing we knew… she had put $100 on black! And she won! We were so happy! So then, I decided to try my hand at the roulette wheel! We played at a $10 minimum table, and I walked away from the table $47 up! I’m a rock star roulette player! It gave me the itch. And all of a sudden, I think I was temporarily addicted to gambling. I never understood it, but now I do—gambling is WAY addicting, and WAY dangerous. But when you’re winning, it’s also WAY fun.

So we went in the Bellagio, and played roulette again, because I needed to. I walked away from the $20 down. Booo!

Here's Alison and I inside the Bellagio (I think) atrium.


And us at the Cosmopolitan. This picture does not do the millions of crystals justice. They were all twinkly and beautiful!


Then we made our way into the Venetian hotel (which was beautiful!) and I decided I felt really sad about losing that $20 and I wanted to get my $20 back. So, win or lose, I was going to put my $20 on black (hey- it worked for Alison) and walk away either $20 up, or $40 down. Lucky for me—it was black! And I was once again a champion!!!

We spent the rest of the evening sashaying around Vegas. We had dinner at California Pizza Kitchen inside the Mirage (which was delicious!) and then headed back to our hotel to get our bags and head for the airport. We ran into Carol Lynn and Wade whose flight left around the same time ours did but they weren’t leaving for a little while longer, and convinced us we had plenty of time to sit and play if we wanted. Originally, we declined and thought we’d just get to the airport a little early and relax… but then, I saw another roulette wheel…

AND it was only a $5 minimum! SO… I sat down. And played. I put $20 out there, played for about 45 minutes, and then walked away with $20. I broke even. I’m awesome!!!

We got back to the airport, got on the plane, and slept the whole way back to Atlanta. I had a recovery day today from all of the excitement where I didn’t do much except for homework, and listened to Collective Soul… I still can’t believe how many songs I know by them, and how nice and cool Ed was!

Las Vegas was a blast, even though my three day trip turned into a two day trip. And (besides George of course) I can’t think of two other women I would have rather spent that vacation with (not that George is a woman!) I love my mom and sister so much and will always cherish the memories we share from our time there—some were funny, some were pathetic, some were sad, some were bad, but overall, it truly was an incredible trip.

Always bet on black!
Chelsea

P.S. WE NEVER Found the Beatles tickets, even after unpacking back here. They seriously disappeared into thin air!


Here I am near the Mirage hotel and the Beatles advertisement!

Pictures, Pizza, and Pups

I think I owe you guys some pictures.

I haven't taken very many pictures during my time in Atlanta but what I have taken is good enough to share!!!

My first morning here my mom, sister and best friend Ashley went to Blue Moon Pizza. Yum yum! Here we all are. It was so nice to catch up with them! They're the best!


Then, I spent one evening just snapping away pictures of my sister's dogs Hank and Baylor, along with my sweet baby girl Cheyenne. Cheyenne deserves her own post on the fears and anxieties she has, so I'll save it for a later date, but just know she is terrified of my new camera, so I haven't gotten many pictures of her. Here are some of the best from the night.

Obviously, Cheyenne didn't want to pose much for the camera. Hank is the mastiff and Baylor is the boxer/pitbull mix. I love my nephew puppies. The hot chick in the pictures in my older sister Alison. She's the best sister ever. Fo Sho.

And, I think randomly in there is a picture of the beautiful wisteria that grows in her backyard, and it smells so delicious.

Spread the LOVE

So… now it’s time for a post that I’ve been writing in my head since I landed in Seattle. But… it’s going to have to come with a disclaimer: I LOVE the United States of America. Please don’t take this post in any other context.

But OMG. I think everyone and their mom should have to live overseas in another country, for a minimum of 6 months. It’s been the most eye opening experience. I realize that Japan is a whole OTHER culture, but it’s been so informative to live there. Here are some interesting things I’ve observed while being back in the US over the past two weeks.

1. American food is delicious. The variety is probably the best in the world (wings, pizza, burgers, steak, seafood, coffee houses, cafes, Mexican food, Italian food, Chick-fil-a (it’s its own food group as far as I’m concerned), sandwich shops etc.) But the portions here are out of control. I mean—seriously. I ordered a half order of chicken nachos the other day at a Mexican restaurant. They came out on a 13 inch plate, stacked ridiculously high, smothered in liquid white queso cheese, chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and guacamole. It was disgusting. (But oh so very heavenly) It took me three meals to eat it. Imagine if it had been a full order. And we wonder why we’re all so fat.
2. Can we talk about recycling? I grew up in a house where my parents have always recycled. Maybe not everything, but cans and plastic for sure. When I moved out, I didn’t think twice about getting a recycling bin, meaning I did not use one, for several years. When we moved to Oklahoma we recycled because we lived on the base, and it was convenient for us to set our stuff by the curb. Texas was the same, as well as Arkansas, but I never went out of my way to do it. If it was inconvenient, oh well- I’d just toss a plastic bottle in the trashcan while I would pump my gas. But now—living in Japan where the base offers a nice, clear and easy way to recycle, and I’ve been doing it for awhile, and now I really see how much stuff could be recycled that we just toss in the garbage. Lately, the only reason my garbage has to be taken out is when it smells, and not because the bag is full. I take out the recycling at a much higher frequency! I challenge each of you to recycle everything you can, I’m talking paper, plastic, cardboard etc. for one month and see how much you’re tossing that could be recycled. I think you’ll be surprised!
3. Why are we so lazy? I sat in a Publix (southern grocery store chain for you non-southerners) parking lot today and watched not 1, not 2, not 3 but FOUR people leave their carts near their car. Are you freaking kidding me? Just take the cart to the cart return. And what’s worse is that Publix baggers will take your groceries out for you. If you’re too daggum lazy to put your cart away, at least pay the teenagers $2-$3 for them to do it for you instead of risking your cart to be rolled into someone else’s vehicle!!! That’s just common courtesy folks.
4. When did American vending machines get so expensive?! I’ve only been away for ten months, but since my return I’ve already paid $2.50 for a coke. And $1.25 for a bag of cheez-its. Are ya kidding me? (But hey, I paid it, so I guess if you’re not a part of the solution, you’re a part of the problem, right?)
5. Are we not smiling anymore? Are we so unhappy that we can’t offer a smile??? When I went to take my finals today I spoke with at least 6 different employees at the school. Not one of them offered me a smile. And I’m a smiley person!!! I smile when I ask questions, I smile when I thank them kindly for answering my questions. No “you’re welcome.”? No “Have a good day.”? No “Thanks, you too.”? And one lady at the post office yesterday was rude too. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve just been running into the wrong people at the wrong time (I really should credit it to that) but I’m unhappy with the friendliness of Atlanta, Georgia. What happened to my sweet state of southern hospitality???
6. We still have to tip here…. Awwww crap.
7. In Japan, the culture and relationships are a little different than here. Example: eye contact. In Japan, eye contact means a relationship has been made. Driving? Need to move over a lane? Just make eye contact with the driver next to you, and you’re in. Blinker, horn, staring… nobody moves out my way here in GA these days…


That’s all the negative I’ve got for now. I’m sure more will come up. I still love Georgia and am proud to call it my stomping grounds. I can’t just end the post with bad things about the country and state I love so much. So, let me also tell you about the wonderful things that have happened since I’ve been here.

I needed to reschedule a doctor’s appointment that I missed while in Japan. On the phone as I’m explaining as to why I don’t need a referral, how I don’t live here and why I don’t have my medical records, the woman at the doctor’s office was incredibly sweet. She told me of how she and her family have been praying for the people in Japan since they heard about the disaster. She and her husband lived in Yokohama, Japan for several years when they were younger. We chatted for about half an hour. What a doll. I’m looking forward to meeting her in person.

When I needed to cancel the various flights I had booked and would explain my situation to the various airline companies, each and every employee told me they had been thinking about and praying for Japan.

The shuttle bus driver at the Seattle airport said the same thing. So did the rental car people, store clerks at the mall. Many also told me they’ve donated their hard earned money.

The guy at my sister’s gym helped me out with a very cheap month’s membership learning I was here temporarily.

While one lady was rude to me at the post office, another wasn’t. As I asked a question about shipping to an APO box, she asked if I was in the military. I said my husband was and she shook my hand and thanked me for my husband’s service and all that I put up with as a military spouse. She about made me cry.

And today I saw a college kid give a bag of potato chips to a bum outside of a gas station who asked for money because he said he was hungry.

There is good in all of us. There is bad in all of us, but there is good too. As the human race, let’s all unite as one. Help your neighbor carry their groceries up the stairs. Stop and thank a veteran. Help an old lady cross the street. Tip the bagger at the store an extra dollar. Give a homeless man a bag of potato chips. Hold the door for someone. Let someone else have that parking spot. Smile at someone. Pray for someone. Let a car over in your lane, while you’re driving, even if they have an ugly Auburn sticker, and didn’t use a blinker. Thank your waiter/waitress sincerely for their job well done, not only with money, but with kind words that may help them get through their night. Leave a comment for the novice blog writer who seldom gets comments but loves when she does (yes, this means my blog… or anyone else’s for that matter!!!). And write “I love you” on 5 different people’s Facebook walls, and mean it!!

Be good. Be the change you want to see in the world.

And think. Use your brain, and your heart to make decisions.

And keep thinking about and praying for Japan. Please. And thanks.

Just trying to spread the love,
Chelsea

Being Thankful Part Two/Dos/Ni

Ok, good news. I finished my finals! It was by far the most challenging semester of college I’ve ever endured. It’s not only that the courses were tough, but the past 10 weeks have been mentally and emotionally draining. With my husband deploying, earthquake/tsunami/nuclear crap, leaving my Yokota family at a moment’s notice, arriving with my family family in Georgia and getting settled here while my heart is literally aching for Japan, plus personal health issues, poor time management et cetera et cetera, the excuses just go on and on. I’ve just been a train wreck.

Through all of this I’ve come out just fine. I have millions of things to be thankful for. We all do. Can we just stop our little selfish worlds for a second and thank God, the universe and the people around us for the wonderful things we do have?

 I have a home in Japan that keeps rain off my head, and my body warm (when George isn’t there to control the thermostat, of course).
 I have the ability to put food on my table.
 I have a table.
 My husband, though very far away, loves me and supports me through thick and thin.
 My family throughout the country loves me.
 My friends on many different continents love me and bring lots of laughter to me.
 Facebook. It sounds stupid, but it connects me with family and friend worldwide.
 My parents are truly the best in the world. They’d do anything for us “kids.”
 My doggie Cheyenne offers undying love, and she’s healthy, happy and here in Georgia with me. Even though she’s a pain in the rear every once in a while.
 I am getting an education.
 I can walk, see, talk, and hear. (and eat incredibly delicious fattening American food)
 I can drive a car on both sides of the road.
 I have cars I can drive on both sides of the road, on both sides of the world.
 I have money in the bank, and food in my belly (Chick-fil-a to be exact)
 My best friend in Japan and her husband welcomed the sweetest little baby boy into the world the other day. I can’t wait to meet baby Miles! (And what a cute name!!! Congratulations Jeff and Caitlin!)

I realize this list can be trivial, but if I had hours upon hours to sit and write, the list would probably never end. My blessings never end, so why would my list???

What are you thankful for?


Chelsea

Not enough fun...

Ok. So.
VERY long story short, I left Japan temporarily. My heart is breaking for the Japanese people that have done nothing but show support, kindness and love towards their country, and the visitors (aka, me) that visit it.

I’ll never forget March 11, 2011… and the way I felt that day watching the tsunamis roll in that afternoon. I’ll never forget the heartache I felt watching the images on TV of people and their homes, cars and livelihood being tossed around like boats in a bathtub. I’ll never forget the fear and sadness I felt as I watched the news for hours explaining about the nuclear problems that came with the natural disaster. I’ll never forget any of it. Just like I won’t forget how I felt on September 11, 2001.

I had already made the decision to travel to Georgia to visit family many months ago, long before the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear issues. In the wake of these events, I chose to head back to the states a bit early, just to err on the side of caution and for my own sanity. I know the people at Yokota are doing incredible things for the Japanese people, and I truly can’t express the amount of pride I feel personally knowing some of the heroes that are helping in the wake of tragedy. I want them to sign autographs. :) HA!

I made it back to Georgia several days ago, and have tried to lay low! Leaving a little earlier than planned threw off my school schedule and put me in a frenzy of panic to get all of my assignments completed and submitted on time. I have finals this coming week and finding a location to take them at has been more of an issue than I’d ever imagined. I’d like to say Georgia has been just peachy (pun intended) but I’m purposely avoiding too much fun so I can keep a responsible mindset. It’s exhausting. All I want to do is explore my hometown, eat at all of my favorite restaurants, and see all of the people I miss and love so dearly. Responsibility sucks.

Now that almost all of my assignments are submitted, and all that’s left to do is study, I want to shout from the rooftops! I must admit that I haven’t let Georgia be all work and no play, as I’ve eaten at a few of my favorite places (Chick-fil-a TWICE and TWO different Mexican joints) I’ve also had pizza, and a Five Guys Cheeseburger. Yes, it’s been heavenly. I have had quite a few meals of leftovers, and am trying to remember that just because I’m kind of on vacation (not quite) I can’t let myself gain 20lbs… but it sure is hard!

If you’re in Georgia and would like to get together, shoot me an e-mail/facebook/whatever and I’d love to try to plan an outing (perhaps somewhere delicious???)

And please do not let Japan slip away from your minds. They still need lots of love and prayers. I am looking forward to when I get back to Japan and can throw my able body into the cleanup and relief efforts. Japan is so deserving. I promise. And if you haven’t been there… add it to the list of things to do… it won’t disappoint. It really is a wonderful country.

Thanks for reading and leaving comments. Love you all!

XOXO,
Chels

The Day the Earth Moved...

How can I even begin to tell this story? The past week and a half has inched by. It was filled with shaking from both myself and the floor, countless hours of alertness, friendship, hurt, hope, airports, security lines, panic, food, family, relief, fear, heartbreak, strength and sadness. The events I am referring to began on March 11th, 2011.

As most crazy days do, this one began normally. I woke up, did homework, had lunch, checked my mail, went to the BX, came home and sat on the couch with my laptop in my lap. About 2:46pm it feels like my couch is shaking. Have you ever had a dog? When they scratch their ears with their hind legs, sometimes it feels like the house shakes for a second. But Cheyenne is in my line of vision, and she is asleep on her bed. “Huh. Strange.” I think. “Oh, it’s still shaking. Oh, look at my lampshade. Oh! It’s an earthquake!” And I’m embarrassed to say that for a split second I felt excited. Earthquakes are very common in Japan, and I hear about them all the time, but I’ve never felt one. The second floor usually doesn’t. But then, it’s still shaking and I can see everything I own rattling, and I can hear it. And the Earth sounds as if she’s moaning. And I panic because I don’t know what to do. I quickly realize this isn’t okay. This is major. My mind searches for an answer about where to go, because with each passing millisecond the house shakes a little more. And it's rattling, and rolling. I get in the doorway of my bedroom because it’s a metal frame. I cry out for Cheyenne to come because the entertainment center hutch is rocking back and forth and I’m waiting on it to fall and crush her. She doesn’t hesitate to listen and as I brace myself in the doorway and actively am praying out loud, “Oh God, please make it stop. Make it stop shaking. The towers! Oh God, those towers! Stop it. Why won’t it stop? It’s still shaking! Father, make it stop!!!” And I can hear my blinds banging from side to side, hitting the window frame, then shifting outwards and slapping against the glass window, and I can hear my neighbor’s dogs barking. And it’s still rolling. I’m being pulled from side to side and it doesn’t make sense. I’d always imagined an earthquake would feel like you’re shaking from side to side, but it doesn’t. It rolls, and turns and twists, and you can’t keep your feet planted. It’s terrifying. I watch a picture frame fall over, but then it’s done. It stops. The Earth stops moving, I take a deep breath, and want to break into tears. What do I do now? I look at my bookshelf that’s been re-organized. It’s just stuff. Nothing’s even broken. The people. How are my neighbors? I can hear front doors being opened, and I get Cheyenne on a leash and we go downstairs where we meet two of our neighbors.

They both felt it. I didn’t imagine it. None of us knew what to do when it happened. Jane was about to walk out the door because she had somewhere to be at 3. We discuss aftershocks, and tsunamis. I gasp at the thought of a tsunami. The island is so small, and we all know it would cause a lot of damage. We wonder where the epicenter was. A word I’d learned only a week or two prior, in the English class I teach. The center of the earthquake. Where it began.

We talk about our friends who live in “the towers” which are 9 story apartment buildings on base, there are tons of them. We try to call our friends, but the cellphone lines are down. We discuss that it must have been really close, or else it was a huge earthquake. I take Jane’s dogs upstairs with me because I’m not going anywhere, and we were afraid if another one came, we didn’t want stuff to fall on them.

I got back inside, and immediately google, “What to do in an earthquake”. I read about getting under a sturdy piece of furniture, crouch to the ground, hold on. I come up with a game plan to get under my dining room table if it happens again. I pulled up facebook, where everyone and their mom at our base has already posted comments such as “Whoa! Earthquake!” Or “Rocking and rolling in Japan!” And other witty things. I think I posted something about how scary it was.

I turn on Fox news. Nothing about Japan. I turn on CNN, nothing. From my house phone, which is still working, I call my friend who is pregnant and has a 2 year old and lives on the 8th floor. She’s okay. She only had a vase break, but she and her little boy are okay. She says she googled the earthquake and gives me the link. It says the quake was a 7.something and all it says it was off the island of Honshu. I can’t do anything but think, “No shit. Why isn't it more specific?”

I google Japan earthquake. Nothing. Then someone puts on facebook to watch the Japanese news coverage. Duh! And then there’s the tsunami. There’s a giant wave. And I begin praying again. Silently this time, but fervently. And it hit shore. I’m watching this live and the homes are being swept again, I see cars, and ships being tossed like toys in a bathtub. The cars are trying to outrun this wave, but it’s hopeless. They’re gone.

For the next few hours I can’t tear myself away from the TV or the internet, except for the 3 major aftershocks. When it started shaking, I yelled for the dogs to come, and all 3 of them did, and we crawled under my kitchen table. I have Cheyenne in the nook of my arm and the other two babies by the collars. They aren’t going anywhere. They understand.

I think about calling my parents, but know it’s after midnight there, and they both work early. There’s no way for me to contact George until he gets on Skype. So, I call other people around the base and make sure they’re alright. The base checks on me. George’s commander’s wife calls me. I say I’m fine. The squadron calls me; friends call me, my phone rings about 6 times. Those who don’t call, send mass Facebook messages asking if everyone is okay. We Facebook chat. Everyone has a different story, but everyone is okay!

Jane comes back and spends the rest of the afternoon and evening with me. We choke back tears as we watch the images of the country we love and call home, being destroyed.

I get home that evening and realize that when my parents, family and friends wake up in the morning and turn on the news, they’re going to worry about me. So I wait until about 4am their time and then call. My dad answers, and I explain that there was an earthquake, and when they turn on the news they’ll see how bad it was but I promise I’m safe. He tells my mom, and I’m relieved they won’t worry. Except, the worry just begins.

Then we hear that Yokota took in 11 airplanes that had been diverted from the Narita airport, and they need volunteers with the Red Cross to help. So we go. Jane and I take off to the Taiyo rec center on the base and wait for instruction. They have too many volunteers so I sign up for a shift for the next morning.

I get home that night and decide to send an e-mail. Here’s a copy of it (edited, this time):

Hello friends and family!

Just wanted to send you all a message and let you know that I perfectly fine! About 2:50pm here this afternoon there was an 8.8 earthquake about 230 miles from me. My house, which is on the second floor, shook like crazy. I had a couple of picture frames fall over, and everything hanging on the walls is now crooked, but nothing was broken! I did have some friends who live on the 9th floor of an apartment building here on base have things break (one had a tv fall off the wall) but there have been no injuries reported on base! What a blessing!

The quake itself was horrifying. The noise it brought was super eerie! It sounded like a monster rumbling outside and I could hear the blinds in my house bouncing back and forth off the window frames. I had always imagined an earthquake would shake side to side, but my house shook back and forth, left and right, up and down-- I don't know how else to explain it- except that I didn't like it one bit!!!

Cheyenne and I stood in a door frame and held on. It shook about 2 minutes! That is a really long time to have your home shake! I heard someone on the news report they thought it was 4-6 minutes long. I'm not sure, but I know it was WAY longer than I ever needed to feel one!

We also felt after shocks all afternoon, well, even until about an hour ago... we'll probably feel them all night, and maybe into tomorrow! Ick!

The main airports here in Japan are closed and Yokota Air Base (where I live) is taking in airplanes! The Red Cross here on base has been quick to respond, and I went in to help and am signed up to help from 7am-12pm tomorrow. There is going to be plenty of help needed throughout Japan for the next few weeks (if not months) and I'm happy I'll be able to do something! We're supposed to get an estimated 2500 people here that need to sleep in our community centers tonight.

Please keep Japan in your prayers. Just heard them say on a Japanese news channel that 3.98 MILLION people are without power tonight. Which means no heat, and it's supposed to go down to below freezing tonight... it's even supposed to snow. Watching the footage as it was happening just miles from me has been devastating. I feel pretty helpless. Japan is a wonderful country who will get back on their feet quickly. And continue to pray for the other countries throughout the Pacific that are being affected by the tsunamis that have resulted.

I'm a little shaken up (pun completely intended) but am fine! I am very thankful to be alive and well, warm, with food and water (and a little glass of wine).

George is off in a lovely sandy country right now and won't be home until June-ish, so he is fine too! Thanks for all of your concern!

Our cellphones were out all afternoon, but they are working now (you can't call it without costing us both an arm and a leg) but my home phone which has worked all day is now not currently working. I'm sure as people are waking up throughout the US people are calling us all here in Japan to check and it has jammed the lines! Call if you want, but know that I am fine!!!

I love you all!!!!!

Chelsea




I FINALLY got to talk to George that night around 10pm. He had just heard about the quake and was very worried, but we both felt so much relief to be able to see and hear each other. I love Skype. And I love George.

So, that was just the beginning. That was the first day. Quite literally—the day my world was shaken. I am safe and well in Smyrna, Georgia with my family. Cheyenne is here too. How I made it here is another story, for another day. I’ll be sure to tell you all about it.

Please continue to pray for their country. It is the saddest thing that I’ve ever experienced, watching Japan fall apart. They’ll prevail. I’m sure of it.

Chelsea

Here's one little picture I took of a bookshelf I have in my living room. The DVD's got shifted, and a few things fell, but nothing even broke.




Check out these reputable links if you would like to donate money/supplies, or your time-- if you're in Japan. Japan needs all the love they can get:

www.crashjapan.com

http://www.redcross.org/


AND Here's some more interesting links:

This is my fantastic friend Kate's blog. She's in Japan still and is working and doing incredibly brave and gracious things for Japan. She has wonderful information about what you can do to help... check out the blog from 3/11/11 and after.
http://tdubandkate.blogspot.com/2011/03/31111.html

This is an interactive map so you can see how MANY quakes they've experienced in the past week and a half.
http://www.japanquakemap.com

This is a cartoon that's aired on Japanese TV to explain the nuclear problems to the children of Japan. It's pretty funny!
www.urlesque.com/2011/03/17/nuclear-boy-cartoon-japan/

This is the bases official website. It's got up to date information on the truly INCREDIBLE things the USA and many other countries are doing for Japan, and the victims of the quakes/tsunamis. I am SO proud to know and be associated with the people at Yokota. Truly, they are heroes. From the pilots flying the planes, to the mechanics working on them, to the groups packaging supplies, loading the planes, the spouse groups making food around the clock... the outpouring love from Yokota to Japan is overwhelming. They're amazing.
http://www.yokota.af.mil