EARTHQUAKE: a shaking or other movement of part of the earth's surface, resulting from volcanic activity or the sudden release of tension along geologic fault lines.

Last night I dreamed that I was a child again.  A little baby laying in my Momma's arms being rocked to sleep.  But when I opened my eyes, I discovered that I wasn't at home, wasn't a baby, and that Momma wasn't rocking this grown woman.  No, I woke up during one of Japan's all too frequent earthquakes. 

Now as I lay there seeing the overhead light fixture swinging, feeling the building move, wondering how long until the place collapsed, and listening to the dishes rattle in the kitchen, the only thought that rushed through my mind was which leg I'd break if I jumped over my balcony.  I hoped it was the left one.  Then I thought it would be my luck to survive the jump only to have the building fall on me. 

Now that I think back, I have to admit that I have the survival instinct of a moth.  I should have at least gotten up and hid under a table or stood under the door frame.  Instead as the aftershocks gently gently rocked the room, I finished my prayers and counted the days until I was on a plane back to the good 'ole USA.  

I learned many things in college, got that common sense, but some things you never learn how to deal with.  That earthquake brought up a new issue for this girl: that of control.  I like to have control and I'm not the only one.  Human beings all over the world like to fool themselves into thinking that they have omnipotent control over many aspects of their lives. Black men have a phrase that they use a lot that sums of the point.  "I got this..." 

Well the truth came signed sealed and delivered at 1:00am.  I'm not the center of the universe, and the mass of fault lines underneath this island don't give a damn about my delusions of control.