1989: Loma Prieta Earthquake
San Francisco Bay Bridge: Treasure Island
"... I do remember that it took a long while before we felt safe enough to return to our cars. Eventually – one by one or in small groups we braved the way back onto the bridge.
Once in the cars, people waited while each car turned around to make room for everyone to eventually get off the bridge. It took hours. All was going smoothly until one car without a driver just sat there, blocking the exit of a bus no less. At this point a guy in a red and black checked woodsman jacket started directing the exit process. Who knows who he was – everyone just deferred to him. To deal with the abandoned car that was blocking the safe turn-around of the bus, he seemed to signal effortlessly and 7 or 8 guys showed up out of nowhere. As if they had been choreographed, the men surrounded the car, bent down, lifted the car, moved it to the side of the bridge and directed the bus driver to make his turn.
Incredible.
My car was among the ones closest to the break in the bridge. So the closer I came to it, there were more people driving back in their cars and fewer people walking. It was dark by then with just the lights of the bridge illuminating the bay and the blacked-out city of San Francisco. That’s when I noticed an old Asian man in a khaki raincoat. He was by himself and walking slowly, bent forward with a couple of pieces of clothing on hangers from the cleaners over his back. I was a little concerned about him. We were both alone.
I came up alongside him and kept my gaze on him as I passed. He looked up at me slowly from under the brim of his hat. He smiled with this impish twinkle in his eye and then shrugged. I got the message – some days are better than others. I knew he was OK. He went on his way, casually happy in the midst of trauma. That little moment of intimacy has stayed with me all these years and, like a talisman, still reminds me of hope and resilience and the healing power of a joyful state of mind.
~ Laura Basha, Ph.D.
(Edited by Judith Blahnik, excerpt from soon to be published manuscript)
