© Edward G. Roberts

A 5.4 (Richter scale) earthquake struck the Southern California area at 11:42 am this morning. The quake was centered in Chino Hills, approximately 30 miles from where I live in Huntington Beach. It has been a few years since a notable earthquake rattled the psyches of Southern Californians. This quake was definitely one of the most notable earthquakes I experienced during my 50 years in the Southern California area.

During my life in Southern California I survived several sizeable earthquakes beginning with the 1971, 6.6 San Fernando quake. My family has lived in Southern California since 1957 and the 1971 quake was the first memorable earthquake of my life. During those days, I slept on a mattress on the floor, under a window, in a small ground floor apartment in Alhambra. At 6:00 am on the morning of the earthquake, exploding power transformers, loud rumbling sounds, and violent shaking abruptly ended my slumber. As I awoke, I thought world war three had started and we were under attack. Fortunately I was unharmed and did not suffer any property damage. I survived my first earthquake.

In subsequent years there were a few minor quakes highlighted by the 1987, 6.0 Whittier Narrows quake. In 1992 the 7.3 Landers/Big Bear quake killed one person and caused about 100 million dollars damage. Then in 1994, the 6.7 Northridge earthquake shook a wide area of Southern California and resulted in 57 deaths and over 40 billion dollars damage. In between the large quakes were numerous smaller shakers. I survived them all unharmed.

Today’s earthquake in Chino Hills was not particularly large on the Richter scale, but seemed more terrifying than some of the previous major quakes. I live on the third floor of a large apartment building. Approximately 11:42 am, a loud rumbling sound interrupted my attention from my laptop computer. I thought a large truck was passing on the nearby highway. Shortly after the rumbling started, a violent jolt shook the building. It felt like King Kong had the building in his hands and was bouncing it off the ground as he was shaking it. I rushed for the cover of the dining table, burning my right knee as I slid under it. My thoughts immediately went to my wife and my cat, where were they?

The violent shaking and bouncing lasted for a few seconds; it seemed like forever. I feared my building could not withstand much more of this; I worried it would crumble to the ground. The shaking finally stopped, but now the building began to sway, back and forth. It felt like I was on a surfboard, surfing on the waves. After about 20 seconds, the swaying finally stopped. The entire sequence of events probably lasted 20 – 30 seconds. When it was over, it seemed I endured several minutes of terror.

The next priority became my wife. She was on her lunch hour at work and had an appointment at the nearby auto dealer to have her car serviced. I immediately tried to contact her on her cell phone. No luck. The entire Southern California phone system was overloaded and disabled. Finally, at 12:15 pm I was able to reach my wife at her office: she survived unharmed. Meanwhile, my cat finally emerged. She had been asleep in the downstairs bedroom and appeared totally unaware of what just happened. She too, survived unharmed.

The most gut wrenching emotion I experienced during an earthquake is fear of the unknown. An earthquake strikes without warning, there is no time for advance preparation as in a tornado, hurricane, or flood. One moment life is normal, the next moment everything is in turmoil: the ground is violently shaking while thundering noise fills the ears. I cannot define the horrible, frightening feelings as the floor beneath my feet violently jumps up and down, shelves deposit their contents on the ground, and walls gyrate around me. There is no measure of the terrifying anticipation I felt as I watched my room rock back and forth, just like a ship on a stormy sea. And when the terror finally stops, my anxiety increased as thoughts of scientific probabilities of the occurrence of a larger earthquake overcome my imagination. Once again I’ve survived unharmed; I’m overcome however, with cautious feelings of relief knowing the next quake could be even worse.

In California, life is always threatened by the possibility of a major earthquake event. Most geological experts agree that California will be subject to an 8.0 earthquake within the next decade. I have survived earthquakes of 6.0 – 7.0 however; I cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like to experience an 8.0 earthquake. Although I know better, I pray I will never have to find out.

Sources:

Author’s personal experience.

Anniversaries of Notable California Earthquakes -
http://www.consrv.ca.gov/cgs/rghm/quakes/Pages/eq_calender.aspx

© Edward G. Roberts

An overcast morning on opening day of the 2008 Honda US Open of Surfing

As it has so often in the past, opening day of the 2008 Honda US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, California greeted everyone with overcast skies and 2-3 ft. waves. In the main surfing stadium alongside the Huntington Beach Pier, the first round of the boy’s O’Neill US Open Junior Pro qualifying was in the water. Further south in the second contest area, the first round of the men’s Honda US Open of Surfing qualifying was underway. Surrounding the surfing contest area, construction crews were busy erecting the tent village which will be the home of the Go211 beach festival for the next ten days. Read entire story…..

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2008 O’Neill US Open Junior Pro

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© Edward G. Roberts

Final day at the US Open of Surfing

The hot summer days of late July annually bring to Huntington Beach, California many of the top professional and amateur surfers from around the world for the Honda US Open of Surfing competition and festival. One of the premiere surfing events in the world, the Honda US Open of Surfing also brings thousands of visitors to the Huntington Beach Pier every year. In addition, the sand surrounding the Honda US Open stadium grows into a mini tent city with numerous displays, vendors, and extreme sporting events. For ten days the downtown Huntington Beach area becomes one giant beach party. Read entire story…..

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Rob Machado - 2005 US Open of Surfing

Dane Reynolds - 2007 US Open of Surfing

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© Edward G. Roberts

Introduction

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD), also called peripheral artery disease (PAD), usually afflicts people over age fifty. PVD refers to any disease of the human circulatory system not involving the brain or heart. In the United States, approximately 10 million people suffer from PVD. This number is expected to increase as more people grow older. Men are more likely to develop PVD than are women. Atherosclerosis, the buildup of fatty materials in the blood vessels, is the most common condition creating PVD. Primary causes of PVD are smoking, diabetes, and obesity. A person’s legs, arms, and kidneys are the most common areas where PVD manifests itself with the legs being the most frequent place. When it has been determined that a patient has PVD, one of the medical tests to determine the severity of the PVD is called an angiogram, or angiography.

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© Edward G. Roberts

Today’s doctor appointment was scheduled weeks ago and for a long time I feared this would not be a pleasant day. I was seeing a pulmonologist for the first time regarding a potential issue with my left lung. Although I‘ve been seeing several doctors for several years because of several other health issues, I never imagined I would be facing the challenge this new doctor presented me today. I was informed I have lung cancer and severe emphysema.

I was a smoker all my life. I’ve been told to quit smoking many times however, I always managed to postpone my quitting date. I always believed I could stop smoking anytime I wanted. Despite serious vascular disease, several vascular surgeries, and potential threat of limb amputation; I continued to smoke. I tried to quit so many times I lost count. I always failed. I watched several people close to me, including my life-long best friend, die from smoking related diseases and cancer. Yet, I continued to smoke. “I will never develop cancer from smoking,” I foolishly thought. Today I learned how ignorant I was.

My latest problem began with a routine chest x-ray a couple of months ago. A small spot was discovered on my left lung. This spot was not on any previous x-ray so it must have developed recently. I was told that usually a small spot like this turns out to be “nothing.” A subsequent CT-scan revealed the small spot was not “nothing.” It also showed the severity of my accompanying emphysema. Fortunately the small spot was discovered early and the possibility exists that it can still be treated. Not so for the emphysema.

Several tests will now be performed to determine the severity of the cancer. Within the next two weeks, I will undergo a needle biopsy. In addition, lung function tests will be performed to determine the capacity of my lungs. If necessary, I may have to undergo a surgical biopsy. After all the test results are evaluated, a determination will be made if surgery to remove the cancer will be appropriate. Until then, I can only wait and see.

A lifetime of wrong choices regarding smoking has brought me to this dilemma. As I look back on my life, I can’t help but think how easy it would have been not to even start smoking. However, as the saying goes; “that’s water under the bridge.” I made a commitment today; cigarette smoke will never enter my lungs again. But, it might be a little too late for that. Within a few weeks I will know. For now, I can only think back to the words my grandmother taught me many years ago: “Que Serra, Serra …., whatever will be, will be.”

© Edward G. Roberts

Persons born between the years 1946 – 1964 belong to the group known as the baby boomer generation. During those years, approximately 76 million babies were born in the US. According to the US Census Bureau, the 2005 estimated total number of baby boomers stood at 78.2 million. Beginning in 2008, the oldest of the baby boomers reached retirement age of 62. Many of these people are not prepared for retirement: financially, mentally, or physically. How are many baby boomers going to survive their retirement years when they don’t have any money, income, home, or retirement pension?

Many baby boomers are not ready for the limitations retirement will bring them. The younger amongst them still have some time to prepare for their future however, for many older baby boomers the time has come. In today’s economy where homes cost $ 100,000 or more, gasoline is approaching $ 5.00 per gallon, food and utility costs are at all time highs; how are some of the baby boomers going to live on limited Social Security incomes?

Here is an example. John: 60 years old, married, worked full time until age 55, partially disabled with severe medical issues and unable to work – but ineligible for any government assistance. The wife’s employment is the only source of income. All their medical insurance is provided through the wife’s employment. But, she’ll be 62 next year and ready to retire; her employer may force her retirement. Income and medical insurance will stop if the wife stops working. Their home is a rented multi-level apartment at $ 1000 per month, but John’s handicap is making maneuvering stairways increasingly difficult. Soon, they’ll need to move, but where to; they won’t be able to afford much on the $ 2000 combined Social Security payments they will eventually receive.

Here is another example. Bill: 62 years old, married, working full time in construction, no serious medical issues but getting too old for this type of work. His wife is also 62 years old, has never been employed because she was a housewife and mother raising 5 kids. All the kids are out of the house. She now has the beginnings of potentially serious medical problems. All income and medical insurance is coming from Bill’s employment. Because of bad financial planning, Bill lost his house and is living in a $ 1600 apartment. They have a small amount of debts, no savings, no pension, and no money. How and where are Bill and his wife going to live on his retirement income of approximately $ 2200 per month?

There are many baby boomers who are well prepared for their futures. Many however, will find themselves faced with issues as in the examples above, or in even worse situations. Please use the comment form below if you have any comments, offers, suggestions, or ideas to contribute to the baby boomers who are faced with uncertain futures. Perhaps with your help, a viable solution can be found for the inevitable upcoming crisis in America.

© Edward G. Roberts

An annual tradition in the City of Huntington Beach, California, (also known as Surf City) is the Fourth of July parade. The parade is part of the Huntington Beach Fourth of July Festival which is the largest Independence Day celebration in Southern California. In 2008, in addition to the parade, the three day festival includes: an old fashioned pancake breakfast at Lake Park, the Surf City 5K run and Fitness Expo, a three day Pier Festival, and the Fireworks Show later in the evening. Many family activities and plenty of entertainment are available on Main St. and surrounding areas during the event. Read more

© Edward G. Roberts

Game four of the 2008 NBA championship series between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers promised to be the defining game of the series to this point. The Lakers, trailing the series two games to one, could create a brand new series by winning game four and going to game five all tied up: two to two.The Celtics however, could almost guarantee capturing the championship by defeating the Lakers in game four and assuming a commanding three games to one series lead. Would Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom lead their bunch to victory; or would Boston’s Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnet overwhelm the Lakers as they did in games one and two?

The game started fast for the Lakers. Lamar Odom was driving the paint and scoring: finally. In the first half, he made seven out of seven shots; quite a change from game three where he scored a total of four points. Derrick Fischer was making some shots. Radmanovic drained a couple of key three pointers. Kobe was struggling, in the first half he had zero points; he was running the floor and giving his teammates the shots. And it worked. In the first quarter, the Lakers took a twenty-one point lead while holding Boston to fourteen points. Part way through the second quarter, the Lakers extended their lead to twenty-four points. The Boston Celtics looked limp. By halftime however, the lead was reduced to eighteen points. Was Boston making a mini comeback? But they can’t come back from a twenty-four point deficit; or can they? A cloud of anxiety enveloped Lakers’ fans as their overwhelming lead started to shrink.

The third quarter started with both teams bobbing and jabbing. Twice, the Celtics cut the lead to single digits. The Lakers held them off and rebuilt their lead to seventeen. With six minutes remaining in the third quarter, the lead was back to twenty. But then everything changed. Suddenly the Lakers could not make a basket. Their defense completely crumbled. Boston kept punching, the Lakers could not punch back; the Celtics overwhelmed them again. Why was the Lakers’ “machine” (Vujacic) running around like a chicken with his head cut off? Why was Radmanovic flopping and flailing his arms like he was doing a Serbian folk dance? Meanwhile, Fischer, Odom, and Reza who sparked the Lakers in the first half, warmed the bench, why? The greatest comeback in NBA Finals history was happening before everyone’s eyes. The Lakers could do nothing about it as Boston shrunk the twenty-four point deficit like snow melting in the Mojave Desert. By the end of the fourth quarter, the Celtics had defeated the Lakers by six points.

This was the biggest embarrassment ever suffered by the Lakers organization in their long history. The Lakers were unable to protect a twenty point lead with approximately eighteen minutes left in a vital playoff game. Unbelievable! The mighty Lakers, unstoppable in the first half, came to a screeching halt with all cylinders melted. Where was Lamar Odom? In the second half, he disappeared again. During the Lakers’ second half melt down, their mighty bench players should have stayed home. After the game, Kobe Bryant said, “the Lakers wet the bed big time.” He didn’t know the Lakers’ fans had to vomit and “mess” their pants while watching the second half. The NBA Finals ended for the Lakers in the third quarter of game four. No team has ever won the series after trailing three games to one. To win the championship, they now have to defeat the Celtics three consecutive games: not going to happen. But who knows, as unbelievably miraculous as the Celtics’ epic comeback was in game four, perhaps the Lakers will make an unbelievably miraculous comeback and win the series. Don’t bet money on it!

© Edward G. Roberts

On August 23, 1963 I was about to embark upon my junior year in high school. It was a hot summer in Los Angeles. My friends and I did what most teenagers typically did during summer vacation back then: nothing. We were aware of the racial problems in the South, but in our “little world” those problems had very little impact. One of my best friends was a Negro boy named Jules. He lived in a predominately black neighborhood in Pasadena however; his family, friends, and neighbors treated me “like one of their own.” I was just the “white boy.” In my world, Jules was my family; there wasn’t any racial prejudice.

I was at Jules’ home the day Dr. King presented his “I have a dream” speech. The entire family was crowded around a tiny B&W television set. As we watched the hundreds of thousands of marchers listening to Dr. Kings’ words, I remember Jules’ mother saying; “Boy, some of those people must really have it bad. Too bad they can’t live as happily as we do.” I was surrounded by happy Negro people: my extended family. A few years later, after the Watts’ riots of 1965, the happiness changed. Many of my Negro family were now anxious and scared. Many wondered how Dr. King’s powerful words of peace and non-violence could spark such acts of rioting and violence amongst the Negro people in the country; they prayed the violence wouldn’t spread to their neighborhoods. Many were ashamed to be Negro.

The impact of Dr. King’s words became clear to me many years after their presentation. In my “little world” during the 1960′s, life was good; gas was a quarter per gallon, everyone seemed to get along together. At that time, although very powerful rhetoric, Dr. King’s words did not really do much to motivate those in my “little world.” As the civil rights movement gained strength and success over the later years, so did Dr. King’s words gain meaning and power for me.

I did not hear or read Dr. King’s speeches very often in the past. A few years ago I watched a video tape of Dr. King’s August, 1963 speech. The impact of Dr. King’s emotional appeal finally reached its intended target within me. In my mind’s eye I could see Jules standing there, handing me a check saying, “you’re freedom check bounced,” and “pull me out of the quicksand and onto our rock of brotherhood.” Although the civil rights movement has done much to improve the lives of many Negro people, there is still much to be done to dispel, as Dr. King said, “the tranquilizing drug of gradualism” and “to open the doors of opportunity to all God’s children.” I am even more inspired, as I read Dr. King’s speech today, to “lift our nation from the quicksand’s of racial injustice.”

To me, powerful words are equal to inspirational paintings and artistic photography. The master painters, Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Picasso studied and mastered color and light. From experience, they knew instinctively what combinations of color and light would create the vision they desired the viewer to feel. Likewise, great photographers like Ansel Adams, Alfred Eisenstaedt, and Mathew Brady knew instinctively, from experience, what combinations of color, light, and shadow in their compositions, would create their desired vision in the viewer’s mind. And so it is with words. The powerful writer knows instinctively what words and word combinations will provide the desired vision in the reader’s mind. This masterful art of crafting words to present the clearest vision was the strength of Dr. King’s arguments.

I cannot compare the meaning of English words and phrases to those of other languages if I don’t thoroughly know the words of the other language. Dr. King’s words were presented in clear, unambiguous English. I was able to understand their meanings vividly. Marjorie Agosin‘s poem however, was originally written in Spanish. The English translation cannot, no matter how good the translations, or the intentions of the translators, create the same vision the nuances of the Spanish language would create in the reader’s mind. It seems Agosin’s original poem was written in South American Spanish as opposed to traditional Spanish from Spain. The small differences in the two languages, or dialects, may also have influenced the English translation. Therefore, the translated version of Agosin’s poem does not present the power and influence as in Dr. King’s words.

Spain has been one of my favorite destinations many times. My aunt lives in Altea, Spain, a small, traditional coastal community on the east coast of Spain. One of my friends lives on the northern coast of Spain. I have visited many areas of Spain. The people, lifestyle, and country present a unique feeling of serenity, bliss, and happiness. These feelings are expressed as visions in other’s minds through the Spanish language. I speak a little bit of Spanish, “un poquito,” but was unable to fully comprehend the feelings and nuances of the Spanish version of Agosin’s poem. However, in the English translation, words like “Let’s go party, at dusk, at night, at sunset” flood my mind with scenes along the beaches of Benidorm, Spain; listening to Spanish singers drenching my mind with romantic tunes in Spanish, while I sipped bottomless bowls of Sangria.

The feelings with which the Spanish words roll off the speaker’s tongue cannot be equaled in English. For example, the words “my love” sound so much different, and present a more romantic vision, when seductively expressed in Spanish: “mi amore’.” Although many of Agosin’s words in the English translation present certain visions in my mind, they cannot equal the emotions generated by the original Spanish version. The English translation of Agosin’s poem does not touch my senses as majestically as do the words of Dr. King.

Red lights flashed everywhere. Police radios shrieked a conundrum of excited voices. Cops crouched in the street with gleaming pistols aimed at a skinny young Caucasian fellow holding both hands in the air while standing beside his dilapidated car. A perilous criminal arrest was taking place right in front of my home. The year was 1959, I was eleven years old. Witnessing the capture of this dangerous outlaw, for suspicion of marijuana(1) possession, was my first encounter with the forbidden drug. A few years later, I was formally introduced to recreational use of marijuana. I became an occasional user of pot(2). Read more