I woke up in the middle of the night and felt a light tremor. “Earthquake,” I thought at once. The house swayed a bit for a few seconds, but then it calmed down. It was just after four in the morning. I thought I should check the news on the World Wide Web, but I went to the bathroom instead. I kept waking up through the night and morning, checking the alarm clock, and going back to sleep. Each time I thought I should check the news, but I fell asleep a moment later. Several times I dreamt that I was at my computer and that the earthquake hit southern Istria, the Alps, or Friuli. When I finally got up, I checked the news and found that there was a big earthquake between Modena and Mantova in northern Italy. That is just across the Adriatic from Istria. Modena is in Emilia Romagna and Mantova is in Lombardy. Several people are dead and some are still missing. Reading about the calamity, I kept shaking my head. It took me a while to separate my dreams from reality. The earthquake is as real as earthquakes get.

Addendum I (May 29, 2012)

Another earthquake shook Italy not far from the place where it struck a bit more than a week ago. It was shortly after nine in the morning. About ten people are dead and many are still missing. However, this time around I missed it entirely. I was sound asleep, but many people in Motovun have felt it. According to those who have experienced both tremors, the two were rather similar in intensity and duration. More are expected in the same region, and I will do my best to stay in tune. I have always found earthquakes quite exciting.

Addendum II (December 11, 2016)

There were many earthquakes in Italy as of late, but I have not felt a single one. Some of my friends in Motovun have felt quite a few of them, and I feel a bit jealous by now. Not to worry, though. Many more earthquakes are expected just across the Adriatic. And I cannot imagine missing all of them. To be sure, the excitement is quite palpable each and every time. The light tremor I felt before the original piece was written is still with me four years hence. Although I hope that nobody will get hurt, feeling the earth move under me is quite a joy. Among other things, it puts me in my place. The same also holds for my fellow humans, and it is high time that they are put in their place.