The day was October 17, 1989. Rena and I had been married for two short years. At the time I was a painter. On this particular day I was working with a crew of three on an old historic high rise Victorian in the heritage district of downtown Vallejo. The time was 5:04 P.M. and it was quitting time. We had just climbed down from three tiers of scaffolding when I heard a low rumble from within the house that quickly turned into a crashing roar. It sounded like four football teams running wildly inside, banging against the walls and windows. As we drove home the reports began to flood the airwaves with news of an earthquake. Even though we knew there had been an earthquake, we had absolutely no idea of the devastation that was to become the infamous Loma Prieta Earthquake of ’89.
An entire portion of Interstate 880’s overpass, near the Cypress street turnoff in Oakland, had not only collapsed, but 67 people would lose their lives, 3,757 would be injured and more than 12,00 people would become homeless before it was all over. The unsuspecting motorist never imagined they would not live to see the next day as they innocently drove that now famous portion of I-80. Rumors begin to trickle in of the tragic freeway death toll. We all held our breath waiting for confirmation of the sheer devastation we hoped was only a rumor. As I walked into our 2-bedroom apartment at 928 Marin Street #2, on the corner of Florida and Marin Street, the first thing I did was turn on the television. To my shock and horror, graphic images of twisted metal, mangled buildings and rising death tolls were pouring in from every available news camera. Immediately, we all knew that what we heard was not just rumors, but brutal hash reality.
As I slumped down in the corner of our old Victorian style apartment overlooking downtown Vallejo, it seemed as if I were suffocated by all the horrific news being piped in on every air way and mode of communication possible. Then I realized that even though history had just been re-written and life would never be the same for thousands, I began to think of all the things my wife and I had to praise God for. Even in spite of all the things we never will understand, there is plenty that we can still praise God for every day of our lives, even in the face of tragic circumstances, because it is His love and grace that sustains those of us who survived. As I prayed for those still trapped under tons of concrete and rubble not knowing that to a great degree their fate was already sealed, I concluded my prayer with the following realization as I spoke these words to my heavenly Father on their behalf:
Countless victims suddenly realized as they sat helpless in their vehicles, their inescapable fate was sealed, and they were about to meet an untimely death; I imagined in my heart their last words may have sounded something like this:
The end is near though it may seem
no time to cry, no time to dream
No time to wonder what could have been
as time draws closer to an end
I must live each day as it comes
because yesterday is gone
and tomorrow isn’t promised to me
As I grow older and life flies by
I suddenly realize
‘No Time To Cry’
By Van Waller
Kudos!
This is a reminder of those unfortunate tragedies that on one hand destroy and alter the lives of thousands and on the other hand reminds the rest of us to stop complaining so much and be grateful for what we have.
Well done Van. Thank you for the reminder.
Whenever I ask one of my dear friends how he is doing, his response is always the same “I woke up this morning.” I think beginning each day with the realization that we are truly blessed that we did wake up this morning, should in fact make us each humbly grateful for another day.
In this world of turmoil, stress, and tragedy, these reminders only help us to continue to realize how important it is to live each day as though it were our last, because you simply never know.
Thank you Van for reminding me to live for the day because “I woke up this morning!”
This story tells of the tragedy of the Loma Prieta earthquake in a personal and heart felt manner. We all remember what we were doing when that earthquake hit yet this is an insightful look at what others saw and felt too.
Good Article. I was working not too far away from Oakland at the time of the Earthquake. Will never forget that earthquake and those rumors and actual photos.
Van, I had forgotten all about the earthquake.
I was working on two blocks away and would have been on that freeway if I had left work at the appointed time but my boss asked me to work late ; I was not happy about it but I went ahead.
God saved me that day because every workday around 4:30 p,m. My co-worker and I are usually in peak hour traffic in the very spot where the over head freeway collapsed on those other vehicles.
Different members of my family would ‘ve been on the same freeway headed in different directions during the late afternoon traffic but thanks be to God, most of them were dismissed early because a lot of of them were planning to attend the World Series Baseball game at Candlestick Park.
Your story reminds me how blessed we really were to have escaped a tragedy that killed many and changed lives for some of us forever..
That was a great stroy Van.. Thanks for reminding me of my blessings and how the Lord spared me and all of my family all over the Bay Area
Wow!As the awesome speaker you are, this was well-written. Excellent description and visitation into the minds and hearts of those who experienced this tragedy. I can’t imagine the terror and fear. It is important that we never forget the people who lost their lives and always remember what God has done for us who are still here. Love the poem-Few words say sooo much!
As I read this story, I couldn’t help but think about the devastation in Haiti. One sentence captured the visual perfectly: “graphic images of twisted metal, mangled buildings and rising death tolls…” It’s those indelible images of death, destruction and human suffering that tug on our heartstrings, make the grief palpable, and galvanizes us as a community.
After I read this, I couldn’t help but cry as I thought of my own father and the last thoughts he had. He was one of the 67 victims of the Cypress collapse, and soon I’ll put his story up here as well.
thank you for sharing.
Hello Tiffany,
Thank your for your response to my article.
I think we have been so overwhelmed with tragedy over the years that it seems we’ve become numb (virtually unaffected because we hear it so much if doesn’t directly touch our lives). But, I remember coming home one day, soon after the collapse of the the Cypress freeway and right there sitting on my kitchen table was and open leaflet of all the faces of those who lost their lives that day.
Their names, their faces, the rich history of their lives, and of course the way it all tragically ended – all in bold living color. The only thing missing was their future. I just stared at those photos for what seemed like hours on end, thinking about the people and the families of those whose lives ended so abruptly that day.
Life goes on.
But, life will never be the same.
But, life goes on . . . . . . . . .
Doesn’t an event like this make you realize that there obviously is no god? Before plate movements were understood, everyone thought natural events like this were a result of an angry god. Now people know better, yet still believe that any god exists. How many god believers would make fun of people today that believe that earthquakes were caused by a god? Hypocrisy much?