*Warning. Some scenes may be reminiscent of 9/11.

Didjya feel it yesterday? Did you freak out? I was sitting on the garden level working away at my computer when the house started rattling. Sometimes I hear the rumble of the A train underground but the house never shakes. I stood on the landing where the parlor floor stairs meet the basement steps and wondered if my house was crumbling.

Then I was like “Wait. WTF? This is an earthquake.” Everything started waving around like a B movie dream sequence. If it wasn’t for the rattling, I would have thought it was a bout of vertigo.

I was about to run outside and ask my neighbors if they are feeling it, but then I remember this is 2011 and the internet has taken the place of real people. I ran back to my computer and looked at Twitter and Facebook. Sure enough.

Funny how New Yorkers are. We dubbed this “The NY Earthquake”. It’s all about us. The epicenter was in Virginia and it was felt up and down the east coast, but we weren’t going to let that steal our thunder.

So, what to do in case of an earthquake?

Well, I just stood there confused and waited to see if it was going to get worse. Correct move not to panic since this in New York and massive earthquakes just do not occur here.

But what if? It’s possible.

I did think of grabbing the pets and running down to the basement but I was confusing earthquake with tornado. And tornadoes are so last year.

So, I looked it up.

• Stay away from large objects that could topple over.
• Stay away from windows or anything that could shatter.
• Get to the ground and cover your head.
• Get under a table or piece of furniture. If you’re old enough, this may remind you of those Cold War duck and cover drills they had in some schools up until the 70’s.
• If outdoors, stay clear of buildings that can fall. A bit difficult in NYC.
• If driving, pull over.

I’ve not yet checked my foundation and brownstone facade to see if there are any new cracks. I don’t think I want to know.