A few nights ago, as we were falling asleep, we were listening to the BBC on the radio. We heard that there had been a strong earthquake in central Italy. Nearly 10 years ago we had lived in "central" Italy for a few years. No other information had been given- just that there had been a strong earthquake with some casualties. We decided we better log onto the computer to see where the quake was. First to CNN, there was nothing, than to the BBC. There we read the dreaded words- L'Aquila. We are very familiar with L'Aquila. We went to church in L'Aquila. We have very very good friends who live in L'Aquila and in the surrounding communities. Christopher decided he would try to call. After a few tries we were able to reach Anna-Maria Hibo. She was surprised to hear from us and wondered how we had heard so fast. She assured us that her family was safe and so were the other four families in the L'Aquila Branch. She described to us her experience of getting out of her house and how there was rubble all around. Her family lives near L'Aquila, but not in the town itself. She then in her typical way, went from weeping, to asking us when we were coming to visit. We asked if there was anything we could do and tried to convince her to go and stay in a hotel, but she had no interest in leaving her neighbors. She had had offers from folks living in Rome to host them too, but she didn't want to go unless they had room for all 30 of her neighbors. It turns out that they couldn't go because they only had cars to transport 20 of them and if they all couldn't go none of them wanted to go.
They were all going to camp outside and cook over the campfire. They were able to go in and out of their homes to grab food and the such.
Tara called and talked to Anna-Maria this morning. The Hibos had stayed the night in their car. The had been promised tents, but none had arrived yet. They live in a very small town that I am sure is not on the top of the priority list. Tara went about making some phone calls and had two tents delivered to Anna Maria for tonight. Tara has some friends who live "nearish" and don't have to travel on any roads that have tunnels. Most of the roads with tunnels have been closed until they can be checked.
Christopher came home for lunch and was able to call again. Anna-Maria was surprised because he called right after another major after shock 5.6 she had wondered if we had heard about it (we hadn't). She thought that it felt as massive as the first one. She was sure that L'Aquila was done for. She then told us that 2 of the families in the branch had lost their homes and she was unsure about her own home. She was going to stay in the tents that Motyers had arranged. The last thing she told Christopher was, "Call Again". We have tried to call the others, but only have their home numbers. . .no good now. It doesn't really matter because Anna-Maria wasn't only the mother hen to us, but to the whole branch. She has been in constant contact with them.
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From left to right: Anna-Maria, Olympia, (lost her home), Bruna, Betty (lost her home)
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A vistit in May 2006 for Marzia's wedding
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