Journal/Blog

05-18-23 This Day in History - Mount St. Helens

When my life gets so hectic and I feel overwhelmed, I like to go out to the History Channel and look at the 'This Day in History' stories. Sometimes they help me put things into perspective. Of course, it's all based upon how I interpret the stories and relate them to my life, but isn't that how we process pretty much everything?

On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens violently erupted. The eruption killed 57 people and devastated 210 square miles around it. Thousands of animals and millions of fish were killed. The area was forever changed.

But this devastation did not happen without warning. The first tremors began on March 20th of that same year. Local officials who monitored the volcano immediately began closely watching the situation and making plans. After a minor eruption on March 27th and the appearance of a mile-wide bulge on the side of the mountain that was moving upward at a rate of 6 feet per day, they began immediate evacuations of the area.

Even with the circumstances staring them in the face, some people chose to stay. Without judgement of the unknown circumstances, I have to wonder what reasoning they had to make that decision. For me there isn't any material possession that would keep me bound to one place. There are definitely people for whom I would die, but not any parcel of land. That's just my own personal viewpoint.

Our family is facing stress at the moment. It can be termed both good and bad stress all mixed together. The situation is not one that will be resolved for at least a few months, it affects all of us, and though we chose to undertake it, the situation nevertheless is still pressing upon us and having its adverse effects. We are all dealing with it as we can individually, as well as together.

I have two thoughts with the eruption of Mount St. Helens.

One, it wasn't something anyone was able to choose to happen or not happen. One day everything was going along as it always had been, and the next the first beginnings of a historical event were taking shape. You can't negotiate with nature.

Two, the people that did choose to live there knew the possible consequences of their choice. It's likely that many lived their entire life there without being present for any devastation. The last active period prior to 1980 had been between 1837 and 1851. However, living in the shadow of an active volcano precludes any reassurance that nothing will ever happen to destroy your home.

Our situation has not been imposed upon us. Though once we made the decision, it seems to have taken on a life of its own and it does feel like it is this great organism that is steamrolling its way through our lives. We remind ourselves, and one another, that we chose this path, and we will succeed traversing it together.

Change can be frightening, even when it is a positive change.
Life isn't without risk and sometimes it is those risks taken that return the best of rewards.

Knowing that there will be change thrust upon me by time and nature that I have no say in one way or another, makes me appreciate those decisions that I do have the ability to make myself. Even if it brings necessary stress to affect the change, it is worth the effort to strive for a better situation in the future. No one said the act of growth would be painless.

So, I will endure the parts that are unpleasant and cherish those that are joyful. All of them will forge new memories and those are priceless.