gridlore: Doug looking off camera with a grin (Norton)
Douglas Berry ([personal profile] gridlore) wrote2004-04-18 10:09 am

Shale. rattle and roll.

Today is the 98th anniversary of the Great Earthquake and Fire that leveled much of San Francisco.

This morning, the ever-dwindling handful of survivors gathered at Lotta's Fountain on Market St. The SFFD hit their sirens before dawn, and no true San Franciscan complained. The Fireplug That Saved The Mission will get a new coat of gold paint. And people all over the Bay Area will try to remember when the last time they changed the batteries in their earthquake kit was.

Tomorrow, we'll go back to our usual blissful ignorance. Knowing that the Big One could hit in the next few seconds, or not for twenty years. We accept this, and simply take heed of the old California folk song...

California earthquake you just don't know what you've done
We may fall off in the ocean, but you'll never make us run
You're a partner to the devil, but we ain't afraid of him
We'll build ourselves another town so you can tear it down again


The Great Earthquake and Fire

The userpic

[identity profile] faithwallis.livejournal.com 2004-04-18 12:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Is that picture the picture of "Emperor Norton"? ;)

Re: The userpic

[identity profile] cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com 2004-04-18 06:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Who else?

(And I'm not even a native.)

Re: The userpic

[identity profile] gridlore.livejournal.com 2004-04-18 08:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Yup. His Imperial Majesty Norton I, Emperor of these United States and Protector of Mexico.