Possessions Aside, Thankful for Life

Since being “liberated” from many of my possessions in January 1994, I have come to appreciate my health, my life experiences and living in the moment. I spend far less energy acquiring “things.”

Holidays have become celebrations or ritual, spirit and togetherness, not the fruitless search for unwanted and useless gifts.

Nancy Joslin Kaleel

Sherman Oaks

*

Earthquakes are nothing new to me. Oh sure, I helped dad clean up a 2-foot deep puddle of paint in the garage, but I was not in charge. When I was 15, my parents took care of me. Other quakes were someone else’s problem, not mine.

On Jan. 17, 1994, at 4:31 a.m., it hit me. I was the adult now, not the child. I had to protect my family.

I learned something about human nature that day: In moments of great crisis, it is natural to want to be the child, where someone else will take care of me; thank goodness for the capacity to recognize when I must be the “someone else.”

Gary N. Stern

Granada Hills

*

The earthquake did teach me a few things. The value of “things” is nothing. The value of human life is everything.

Dawn Rudy

Van Nuys

*

Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, the shaking started to subside. I checked on my children and they were scared and shaking.

I groped through the house to try to find a functioning flashlight, . . . but none was in working order. I asked my son to take batteries out of his boombox so we could see. My husband was already outside, looking for structural damage.

I then realized that I did not die and none of the family even got hurt. I felt thankful and lucky. I also realized that I needed to do something about becoming prepared.

I needed to feel empowered, so I took a 17-hour class sponsored by the Los Angeles Fire Department that dealt with fire suppression, first-aid triage and other disaster-related topics.

I was able to use the valuable information at home and, [as a teacher] I also taught several disaster preparedness classes at the preschool to help my fellow teachers become competent in case of an emergency.

Betsie Warren

Northridge

*

It was only a few weeks ago in San Francisco when I was again jolted harshly awake by the rumble of the earth, that deep low growl that will forever bring fear into my heart.

It was a reminder of what had once happened here, what could once again happen and what we do with our lives in the meantime.

Jan. 17 will always be a day of remembrance, of thankfulness, and a message to make the most of what we have now, while we stand on firm ground.

Sangeeta Chandra

Northridge

*

That earthquake robbed us of calm. There isn’t a night that goes by that I don’t think about that morning.

My son, who was 4 at the time, still has trouble sleeping in his bed alone. He has had nightmares that have been haunting him ever since.

I’ve thought about moving out of California, but where? Natural diasters are everywhere. Mother Nature proved to me just how powerful she is.

Andrea Gagnon

Valencia

*

ON THE WEB

More letters from readers sharing earthquake memories can be found on the Times web site at https://www.latimes.com/valleyquake.