The earth is God's pinball machine and each quake, tidal wave, flash flood and volcanic
eruption is the result of a TILT that occurs when God, cheating, tries to win free games.
Tom Robbins, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues.
eruption is the result of a TILT that occurs when God, cheating, tries to win free games.
Tom Robbins, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues.
1990: Summer Camp
Microburst
Diagram of a microburst
During a microburst at camp during the summer of 1990, I hid with my cast of
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in the back of the theater.
Rachel, who was part of the staff "brats," was inside the arts and crafts shack when the
microburst hit. She was seven years old and developed an extreme fear of storms when
she saw a young camper bleeding from the forehead after being hit by a falling tree.
 The arts and crafts shack was at the top of "killer hill" on the way up from the pool, complete with a bathroom and water. |  Rachel slept with me at night and spent the day with other staff children and two counselors. |
I found this old map in the now defunct camp office. (I think it was a bit eaten by mice.)
The young girl who was hit on the head by a tree was on her way up to the dining room from the pool.
The young girl who was hit on the head by a tree was on her way up to the dining room from the pool.
2000: Summer Camp
Van Accident, Dining Room Fire, and Tornado Warning
The summer of 2000 brought a series of calamities, leading to my departure from my job at camp.
 When the driver of the van swerved out of the way of a deer on the road, she lost control, throwing Agi out of the car. She hit her head on the door jamb. |  Agi, smiling, despite her accident |
Below, to the left is the Ulam, or gym, where all of the students waited out the tornado warning.
To the right is the dining room for the middle school camp (since razed) which had a minor electrical fire.
To the right is the dining room for the middle school camp (since razed) which had a minor electrical fire.
 |  Some of our adult staff eating lunch in the Reich dining hall -- from the left: Rabbi Saul Grife, Scott Brown Andy Gitelson, me, Fran Leibowitz, Marcia Stepner, Joyce Budman, and Susie Golkow. To the left is the Ulam or main building where our campers waited out the tornado warning. |
2004: Japan
An Earthquake and Two Typhoons
As a Fulbright Memorial Scholarship recipient, I spent three weeks in Japan with 200 American educators. After a one-week program in Tokyo, we divided into groups of 20 to explore the educational systems in smaller cities; my group went to Matto. We returned for another week in Tokyo to share what we had learned. The three weeks included three natural calamities: one earthquake and two typhoons.
I experienced my first earthquake on our first night in Tokyo at the New Otani Hotel.
I experienced my first earthquake on our first night in Tokyo at the New Otani Hotel.
Typhoon Ma-on hit Japan a little later in the week.
| Newspaper and sand bags soak up the flood water in the Tokyo subway.  | Our typhoon party  |
Typhoon Tokage hit is during our last week in Tokyo.
2011: Alexandria, Virginia
Earthquake
After a training tour of Old Town Alexandria, the Washington, D.C. Guild of Professional
Guides had lunch in Gadsby's Tavern. We were just starting our main course when the
earthquake hit. Despite the earth's moving, we all finished eating before evacuating.
| Main dining room in Gadsby's Tavern  | Sally Lunn Bread, their speciality  |
The damage to the building's chimney from the earthquake
The damage to some of the other important sites in Washington, D.C.
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Washington National Cathedral Washington Monument
2007: Berkeley Springs to Northern Virginia
Snowstorm and Freezing Rain
Our book club ladies went on a retreat to the County Inn at Berkeley Springs
for good food and the spas, and to choose our books for year.
| The Country Inn  | Massage bed in the Roman Bath House  |
An earlier book club meeting with author David Tevelin
| January 2007 snowstorm  | We almost made the lobby of the Fairview Park Marriott our home for the evening, but we were able to agree on a price for our rooms.  |
2011: Cambodia and Vietnam
Flooding
Susan and I visited Cambodia and Vietnam during one of the worst floods in over a decade.
Flooding in Hoi An, Vietnam
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A Cambodian family invited us to their flooded home
The rains and subsequent flooding in Cu Chi, Vietnam
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The firing range at Cu Chi: We felt as though we were dodging bullets in the rain.
A video I post of us walking in the water at the Citadel, causing my father great concern
The rain was falling between the rooms at the Quan Zing Song Temple.
Susan and I took a cooking class which includes a ride on a bicycle for Susan and a scooter for me.
After our visit to the market, Susan changed to a scooter as well.
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When we stopped on a remote island for a walk, we were greatly hampered by the flooding. Here, Susan is making her way from the boat with Thuyen's help. We eventually had to give up and head back. Despite the flooding, local families welcomed us to their island.
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Below is a photo of the exterior of the hotel in Hue taken from the hotel restaurant.
The tops of the benches are sticking out from the top of the flood water.
The tops of the benches are sticking out from the top of the flood water.
