An 8.7 scale earthquake in Indonesia yesterday triggered a country wide tsunami warning. It was about 7pm in Adelaide when the news broke. And in Sri Lanka, my homeland, people awaited its effects. The sense of horrible foreboding of worse things to come was inevitable. An eerie sense of deja- vu. And a slight glimmer of hope – that it wouldn’t be as bad.
Although I certainly did not witness the angry oceans uprise on boxing day in 2007, I did witness its aftermath. At the time, I was fortunate to work for an organisation that genuinely sought to bring relief and rehabilitation, in some small quantifiable measure. An estimated 30,000 people in Sri Lanka lost their lives that fateful day. Scores more were affected in ways that could not be imagined.
Hearing the sad stories that followed was heart wrenching. Entire families lost in a single moment, the death of children, watching neighbours and loved ones being taken away by the waves whilst you stood and watched helplessly.
The waters of 2007 were a reminder. A fact that I may have lost sight of.
Essentially a reminder to tell the people I care about how much they mean to me.
Essentially a reminder to tell the people I care about how much they mean to me.
To my family and friends – you know who you are. Infinite love always . xo
