Well, I suppose this is my chance to tell my earthquake story.
When I was in the Army, 1963-65, I was stationed in Verona, Italy. My wife came over (at our expense) and our first son was born there. Due to the Status of Forces Agreement in those days, when because of the prominence of the Italian Communist Party, both the Italians and the Americans wanted to keep the size of U.S. bases to a minimum, we, like many other personnel, did not live in Army housing, but on the local economy. We had a brand new apartment on the first floor front (American 2nd floor), which is the most desirable location, in a new building on the edge of Verona, not far from the 10th century church of San Zeno. Down the street was an Italian armored base (the same caserma where Count Ciano, Mussolini's son-in-law was shot).
You never saw anything of the Italian soldiers in the tank base, as there was a wall and lots of trees around it. The only way you knew it was there was that once every week or so, they would run a couple dozen tanks out, go down the street, around somewhere and return the other way an hour or so later. When they went down the main street (we were on a small street about 50 feet behind it), there was a low roaring sound and the floor would vibrate from the treads rolling over the paving.
One Saturday afternoon, after lunch, I was in the bathroom; on the throne, if you will excuse the mention. I began hearing a low rumbling sound, felt the floor (and throne) vibrating and realized the building was swaying slightly. I called out to my wife, "What are the tanks doing out this time of day?" She replied, "There aren't any tanks -- everything is shaking! It must be an earthquake!" The only thought which went through my head was, when they dig me out of the rubble, there I'll be with my pants down around my ankles!
It only lasted a minute or so and was a very minor affair, but it taught me something about being ready for the end at any time. This is akin to our parents' and grandparents' advice that you should always have clean underwear on, in case you should be in an accident.
