When I woke up I had to go out for a look at the world to make sure it was still there. In what seemed like the middle of the night, I was awakened by a rocking sensation. At first it was nice, like I was back in the cradle. As the seconds ticked by, it became alarming. Then it subsided and my unwillingness to get too involved with matters that interfere with my sleep took me back to whatever I was dreaming. When I awoke, I wondered if it really happened. I wasn't sure until M told me he had the same experience—the jarring of a 5.3 earthquake.