Last night, we had our annual faculty meeting to discuss the standard blah-blah that the university issues. However, the dean added a twist to yesterday's meeting: he began by reading aloud an email from one of our professors, whose name I shall not mention on this blog. I'll paraphrase the message since I don't possess a hard copy:

This holiday season, my wife, my sister and I went on vacation with our parents to our usual place along the coast of the Indian sub-continent. Morning dawned with a beautiful sunset. Around mid-morning, a large group of us entered a shelter to wait for boat; we were going to take a day trip to [some] island. All of a sudden, the large waves started rolling in. No one could out of the doors and the water was rising rapidly. I yelled at someone to break the windows, which he did. Then I started shoving people out the window as the waves kept crashing into the building. Right after my mother and wife climbed out, I clambered out myself. Just then, another huge wave crashed into the building and it collapsed. All of us climbed to higher ground, feeling thankful for our escape.

In a related matter, my sister was overwhelmed by a large wave and dragged out to sea. In what I can only call another miracle, she was returned to us safe and sound.

I wanted to send this message to all my friends and colleagues at the university. My family and I are grateful for the miracles that spared our lives, and are especially grateful to be safe and sound back in the US. Please pass this message along to everyone and tell them I look forward to seeing them next week.

The ocean is a harsh mistress. She rarely gives back that which she takes, and even then it's only grudgingly.

A few years ago, Stephen King was hit and nearly killed after being hit by a car while crossing the street. He and his wife have called every day since then "bonus time". I'm betting that the professor feels the same way.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 02:47 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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