A week ago yesterday (Saturday) we had our first ash fall in Anchorage. Our lovely Mt. Redoubt (which I call a wart because of it's nuisance in keeping travelers from vacationing! I'm not bitter or anything!) has been spurting a bit here and there for a few weeks - and we were able to steer clear here in town - but we finally got our share. I was out in the afternoon doing errands w/ Jack - bank, etc . . . and we stopped to talk to some friends we saw on the side of the road - she was stressed and trying to get her 3 daughters back home because they were getting ash fall at the park. That was the first time I noticed it . . . by the time I got home, it was obvious - there was a slight white coat on parked cars. There were small particles on the inside of my door from having the window down - it was a bit strange. When I got home, we quickly put away the random items the kids had left outside and felt the ash like a little snow flurry . . . and went on as if we were still going to our token office dinner - the booby prize for those of us not soaking up the sun in Vegas . . . we did end up going to dinner. We arrived at the downtown mall as they were closing everything down - stores were shutting their gates and security guards were directing teens to the exits. The restaurant remained open however, so we enjoyed a fine dinner commiserating with other BHB employees void of tans and relaxed, massaged muscles. After dinner we went back out through the mall to our car . . . have you ever been in a dim, empty mall before???? A bit creepy . . . Dan strengthened his role as comforter when he pipes up and says, "Nothing good ever happened in an abandoned mall!" Great - thanks for reassuring me all's well!!! Fortunately, we didn't see so much as one security guard - Got to our car and drove home. This photo was taken the following day - don't know if it's as obvious to those who didn't see the before and after, but the ash cast this dingy gray over the snow. It wasn't the bad situation it could have been - or that we were braced for - fortunately the ash particles of that day were too large to cause lung damage - so all in all, a blessing. It did give me a glimpse though of the possible fear of natural disaster - Dan was a bit more thoughtful when it came to leaving the kids w/ a babysitter during a potenitally stressful situation. Me . . . I was excited to be out - and curious to see first-hand the effects of the testy volcano.It's not over yet, I guess . . . but I hope the worst is past.
1 comment:
When I was growing up in Washington state, Mount St. Helens erupted. I remember thinking how cool it was when we had our little "ash fall" however many miles away we were. (Only a ten year old would really think that was cool!)
What was so interesting though, is that our swing wet in the back yard was covered in ash for _years_. Through all the rain in the Pacific Northwest, etc. there were still patches of ash in crevasses and corners. That stuff is so hard to clean!! Good luck and stay safe!
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