Just the other day there was a 6.8 quake, right through the same region that was blasted two months ago by The Big One. When i first heard about this one, i thought it was an “aftershock.” But it is now being classified as an independent event.

I experienced aftershocks just about every other night while i was in Pakistan. In most cases, they were over before i figured out what was going on, but by the end of my time, i learned that if i heard that rumbling in the distant mountains, i should get ready for the ground to quiver a little. While none that i experienced were severe, they had a tremendous impact on Pakistanis around me. The locals reacted immediately, hurrying out of buildings (many of which are cracked and just look ready to collapse as a result of The Big One), and checking in with loved ones in other cities. You could see the terror in their eyes. Having lived through a full FIVE minutes of swaying land, collapsing buildings, and no foundations, it’s more than understandable.

While causing little physical damage, these aftershocks are poignant reminders to the Pakistanis of all they lost, all they suffered. It is an on-going source of fear — many villagers i met would not sleep in their houses, even though the structures had survived The Big One. The possibility of an aftershock that could bring their house down was simply too real. So even those who didn’t lose their homes were greatly appreciative of our shelters, which are significantly more earthquake resistant.

Similarly, i have been experiencing the aftershocks of my time in Pakistan. I find myself drifting back to the pictures i took, and the significant memories they represent. Stories from my friends (like Greg, Jeremy, and Danger) keep my experiences fresh. And perhaps most powerfully: my dreams. While my body sleeps, my mind is still engaged in the on-going work of building shelters, trudging through snow, taking tea, and desperate attempts to save lives in a handful of different circumstances. I’m still sorting through so much of the emotion, the destruction, the cultural distinctives, and the ways that i personally both gave of myself and built into who i was. I’ll let my subconscience sort it out while i sleep, but when i awake i feel connected in a small way to my friends in Pakistan who are reminded of the harsh reality and essential instability of life with every aftershock.