The power came on about the time we left (around 3:30 PM) but we still had no hot water because of b

In October of 1989 my husband Robert and I lived with a dog and a cat on the eastern edge of the Forest of Nisene Marks about three miles from the town of Aptos, California and about one and a half miles from the epicenter of the October 17th earthquake.  Our son, Paul, lived in Cupertino.  One daughter, Anne, and our son-in-law, Todd, lived in Capitola and our other daughter, Juli, lived in Los Gatos and was engaged to be married to Eric in Los Gatos on October 20, 1989.  This is an account of events from October 16th to 20th, 1989 [ part two's available here , covering the 19th and the wedding anchorage rental cars itself on the 20th].
I talked to Juli (the bride to be).  It’s only four days to the wedding and she’s in bed with the flu – sick and dizzy.  She has to work Tuesday to train a replacement so I hope it’s only a 24 hour virus.  I’m feeling that last week before a wedding stress.
5:04 PM.  In 15 seconds our house moved 4 feet north and 18 inches vertically in several sharp jerks.  As I crouched in the bathroom doorway and held the dog, I was thrown sideways several times.  I don’t remember seeing much except the dog in my lap but I was conscious of a lot of noise and furniture falling over and objects crashing and breaking.  The glass shower anchorage rental cars doors fell beside me but did not break.  Like everyone’s, our house looked like it had gone through a giant blender.  I got up, put out a fire in the wood-burning stove (it had moved a foot to the right), turned on a battery radio and went outside to check on the neighbors. anchorage rental cars Dust and debris were suspended in the air.  There was a strong smell of propane and very soon our volunteer firemen were walking the road looking for the source of the leak.  It proved to be a tank that had broken loose and rolled down the hill.
Bob got home from work in San Jose about 6:20, one of the last cars to get onto Hecker Pass Road before it was closed.  At 6:30 the phone rang (a surprise that it was working) and it was our son in Cupertino – all OK.  We called our daughter in Los Gatos and talked to her answering machine.  That meant she had power!  Later we got through to relatives in Texas.  We videoed (using a generator) the damage and then settled in for a fitful anchorage rental cars night, trying to sleep – too many thoughts going through my head.  Like many, I had a radio plugged into my ear to keep in touch with the world.
I talked to Juli.  The earthquake had knocked the flu symptoms to low priority.  She had a difficult night – but had power and friends stayed over.  We made THE major decision – the wedding is on. Most men involved (not the groom) thought that at least the reception should be postponed but all the women felt it best to continue as planned as far as possible.  Everyone would certainly understand if any detail was less than perfect. anchorage rental cars The bakery (Greenlees of San Jose) and the flower supplier (the Flower Ladies in Scotts Valley), were operational, very cooperative and supportive.  At home, we make paths through the broken glass, picked up the food off the floor and got ready to leave for the wedding rehearsal.
The power came on about the time we left (around 3:30 PM) but we still had no hot water because of broken pipes to the hot water heater.  Since our refrigerator is now working, we invite the neighbors to put food in out freezer. anchorage rental cars A fire is raging in Nisene Marks but it is not headed our way.  The news of the fire so near us upset our son and daughter and they tried to call again but couldn’t get through.  The fire was one thing more than my brain could handle so I didn’t worry about it.  Our neighbor is a volunteer fireman and as we left, we said, “If the wind changes and the fire gets close, please get the dog and the wedding dress.”  As we drove to pick up Annie and Todd, helicopters carrying water from the ocean to the fire were flying over our heads.
The four of us drove sadly through Watsonville – heartbreaking – We had to go south to highway 129 and San Juan road to Highway 101 – back north on 101 to San Jose and Los Gatos to the rehearsal.  Two hours driving instead of the usual 45 minutes over Highway 17!  There was a strong smell of vinegar in Watsonville and even now certain smells remind me of the quake – the vinegar from Watsonville, propane anchorage rental cars from our road, kerosene and whiskey from our neighbor’s broken containers.
The rehearsal at the Kingdom Hall and the following dinner at the groom’s mother’s house go very well.  Those of us from this side of the hill who have had no electricity are glued to the TV set.  We also gas up our cars on the San Jose side.  No power to pump gas at home!
One problem – and a big one.  The reception is supposed to be at a center in downtown Los Gatos.  We cannot reach the center by phone or even by car because of a broken water main and police barricades.  We are sure the center is damaged but we can’t make other arrangements until we confirm the extent of the damage, the unavailability of the center and the refund anchorage rental cars of our payment which has been made in full.  Where will we go?  Megan (groom’s mother) is wonderful and offers her home – but 200 people?
We return home via Highway 9.  It takes another 2 hours.  There’s no good way to get from here to there or from there to here!  A second problem – How can Juli and Eric possibly get to a bed and breakfast inn in Santa Cruz Friday night after an evening anchorage rental cars wedding and reception?  Awaiting us in the mess at home are many messages on our answering machine, some concerned, some interesting, some humorous.
Wednesday night is the most difficult.  I get very little sleep.  I have the radio plug in my ear.  There are four strong aftershocks centered near La Selva Beach.  Our house is gently quivering all night like a cherry on the top of a big bowl of jello.  Finally, after the 4 th shock, the house settled and held and I dozed off.