A return to Mexico City

My brother Mike and his wife Mary are on vacation in Mexico this week. They lived in Mexico City for several years while he was working for Scott Paper Co. Within days of when Mike moved there to take his new job, the Mexico Earthquake of 1985 devastated the city.

At the time, Mike told us that the experience and its aftermath (he was driving to work when it hit) was scarier than anything he encountered during two tours in the Vietnam War, and that included having his helicopter shot down by a SAM. He said that fear came from the unpredictability and the fact that no amount of training could ever prepare anyone for such a catastrophic event.

He sent us family members several photos of his trip this morning. With thoughts of one more act of nature wreaking havoc in Pakistan in the past few days, I chose this photo from the collection to feature on today's posting. Mike explains the photo in his caption below. His wife Mary stands in the picture.


Probably the most moving thing we've seen. Near "Solidarity Park," the site
of the Regis Hotel and the Alameda Park, is a new display of hundreds of
photos of the 1985 earthquake.

The display is incredibly well attended. Many of those attending are too young to remember.

Those who are older have expressions of shock that followed the quake for months. I have to admit a moment of uncontrolled emotion as I had to pull out my handkerchief to dry my own eyes...a very moving display...and those attending only add to the emotion...