Tom,

Once again good to hear from you.  Still no electricity or water, though
again luckily lap top battery working.  I am also surprised able to get on
line and get through.  Once electricity goes back on will probably have a
tougher time getting trhough.  A bit ironic.

Took a long walk around this morning, crossing the Galata Bridge into Old
Istanbul (my neighborhood can't be called young) and saw little evidence of
damage.  Suspect most of it in new construction areas out on the edge of
this huge metropolitan area, where conrers get cut.  This is a poor country
with a lot of folks struggling just to put the flimsiest of roofs over their
head.

Knock on wood, but think you can all rest easy.  Doesn't seem to be any fire
risk nearby, etc.  Your right about nighttime timing; was on the darkened
deck of a ship in a mighty stormy sea.  CNN says 7.8 or somthing in Izmit
(65 miles east of here)!  I'm on the top floor and had all kinds of images
going through my head, as you can imagine.

More later.  Love you too and looking forward to seeing you in October.

Mark-O





>From: <tskilling@tribune.com>
>To: markskilling@hotmail.com
>Subject: THANK GOD--It's good to hear you're all right!!!!!!!
>Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 22:28:45 -0500
>
>
>
>
>______________________________ Forward Header
>__________________________________
>Subject: THANK GOD--It's good to hear you're all right!!!!!!!
>Author:  Tom Skilling at WGNTV-ENG
>Date:    8/16/99 10:28 PM
>
>
>      Mark----
>          Thanks!!! Message received.  Thank God you're OK and thanks for
>      getting to me so quickly.  Read the message to Dad and Mom who are
>      getting on line to get your e-mail.  I see you copied them.
>          I really thought we might not hear from you for a while.  It will
>      be interesting to see if lines of communication remain open.
>         Latest wire story here says 10 dead--though reports are early.
>      They're saying the U.S. Earthquake information service put the quake
>      at 7.3 and news reports are claiming its chaos in some areas there.
>      Take care of yourself and keep in touch with us as you can, Mark.
>      We love you and thank you for thinking to check with us so quickly.
>      You've put our minds at ease--though I can't imagine what state that
>      city is in or the extent of troubles to follow.  The thing that
>really
>      scared me was the fact it hit so early in the morning.  That must
>have
>      been frightening.
>          I love you Mark.  Keep in touch!
>
>                                     Tom
>
>
>______________________________ Reply Separator
>_________________________________
>Subject: Re: earthquake---are you all right?
>Author:  "Mark Skilling" <markskilling@hotmail.com> at Internet_TCO
>Date:    8/16/99 8:12 PM
>
>
>Just got on line.  Surprised it was possible.  Electricity out, so probably
>only us with battery powered lap tops clogging things up.
>
>Everything ok here, so far.  Got a pretty good shake.  Was out in the
>streets for a couple of hours, with everyone else.  My neighborhood up on
>solid rock, so things looked mostly ok.  Lots of old and bad construction
>here; stones in the street.  One upper floor (abandoned) apartment half a
>block from here collapsed and much debris in the stereets.  No apparent
>injuries, however, in my neighborhood.  Unfortunately, other areas not so
>lucky.  Saw 6.7 estimate for Izmit, the center, here (one place I passed
>had
>a genertor and had a tv out for everyone to see).  Passed women praying,
>men
>reading Koran, most just huddled in groups talking. Strange being in the
>middle of it all with limited ability to communicate.  Know a few folks in
>neighborhood and we had a few basic chats, though its amazing how much I
>learned even from them.  Already knew the Turkish word for earthquake,
>which
>is depram (revolution is devrim) and came in handy.
>
>A few seagulls just went by and I think a neighbor down stairs up and
>about;
>mistook that comotion for an aftershock.  A little rattled myself; much
>like
>after SF quake.  I think memory of that still deep seeded in my
>subconscious.
>
>Again, this new technology amazes.  Better get off and save my battery.
>May
>need it.
>
>Thanks for the note.  It was good to see your messages there.  I'll send
>this to the rest of the family, but if they call tell them I'm ok and
>worried about them worrying about me.
>
>Love,
>
>Mark
>
>
>
> >From: <tskilling@tribune.com>
> >To: "Mark Skilling" <markskilling@hotmail.com>
> >Subject: Re: earthquake---are you all right?
> >Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 21:55:16 -0500
> >
> >      Mark--
> >          Have just received word of the earthquake there.  Reports are
> >      preliminary but they are reporting it hit just after 3AM your time
> >and
> >      that buildings have collapsed and there are deaths--though they
> >      haven't said how many.  It's being estimated at 7.1.
> >          I've called Mom and Dad---clearly, Mark, we're very concerned.
> >      Let us know you're all right.
> >          Have been meaning to get to you to say hello. Hvae been
>following
> >      your e-mails.
> >          We're told phone lines are out--so haven't any idea when this
> >      might get to you. Please let us know you're all right.
> >          Thanks Mark.
> >
> >                                        Love,
> >                                       Tom
> >
>
>
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