Today, my worst nightmare came to life, one of the biggest fears that I fight every time I go to Mexico and have to say goodbye to my family. Because I never know if it will be the last time I see them, since I live so far away now. Like all immigrants, I can't really do much but pray and trust that the saints will care for the loved ones left behind in our home countries.
That's why my heart stopped today when I heard that a strong 7.4 earthquake had shaken up my lovely Mexico.
Of course you can imagine that my immediate reaction was to call my parents to find out how they were doing! So it felt like someone poured a bucket of ice water over my head when I got directed straight to my mother's voicemail. At that moment, I was only imagining the worst, but thankfully I was finally able to communicate with my sister who assured me that everyone was alright. She told me that some people had panicked because the earthquake was so strong and lasted such an abnormally long time (us mexicanosare actually quite accustomed to seismic occurrences), but that luckily there hadn't been any serious damage in the country.
Even though the epicenter of the earthquake was in Guerrero according the US Geological Services, the movement of the earth was felt almost clear across the country. It brought back memories for some Mexicans who had survived the tragic 1985 earthquake that destroyed so much of the country.
Fortunately, there was no damage and my friends and family are fine, but there is no doubt that nature can deliver surprises right when you least expect it. From now on, I have to continue trusting in the saints who have always looked after us. I have no words to explain the helplessness I felt, imagining that something bad could happen and I couldn't be there to help my family.
I imagine President Barack Obama dealt the same way, because according to media reports his own 12-year-old daughter Malia Ann was in the Mexican state of Oaxaca on a group trip with her school. Good thing the media already reported that she is fine, because there is no doubt he was shaken to the core as I was when I heard the news about the earthquake.
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