I looked at some photos of the California mudslides and immediately regretted it. For about 5-10 minutes I completely zoned out, and still have images in my head of a huge Nicaraguan mudslide in 1998. the death toll from that slide is not fully known even today. Mud, the consistency of concrete slurry rolled over villages and towns destroying everything in it's path. I was sent to cover it, along with a similar slide in Honduras during Hurricane Mitch.
The photos of the California slide reminded me of ho just a few feet can be the difference in life and death. I met a woman who was the only survivor in her family simply because she went to the outhouse less than 100 feet away. The was a young boy found who was apparently the sole survivor of a small community - no one knew his name or where family might be. I can't help but wonder where that boy is today. I remember walking through the crusted over mud, breaking through and my boots being sucked by the grip; of stepping and not going as deep only to realize that I was standing on a body.
All that came rushing back after seeing just aerials of the affected area in California. I'm not sure why I'm writing this, but I just felt the need to get it out and MRF are my designated listeners. Thanks for being there, just this little bit helps.
“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.”
-- François de La Rochefoucauld
Growing older is mandatory. Growing up is optional.
In tha 360. MRF User Map
