1971--The big Sylmar earthquake, 6.6 on the Richter scale, rocked the San Fernando Valley where I lived. The I-5 overpass north of the valley collapsed for the first time and Granada Hills neighborhoods adjacent to the earthen Van Norman Dams were evacuated, which meant a family of seven bunking with us in a three bedroom home already housing five people.
Interesting times to be sure but what does that have to do with today? I'll tell you in my own twisted manner. Finding a place of refuge was a challenge amid a ruckus that naturally comes with ten kids jostling for space under one roof, but my older sister and I managed to find it once in a while in our bedroom. Trouble was, peace wasn't exactly part of the prize as far as I was concerned.