Where were you when the Earthquake of 2011 hit Rowan and most of the East Coast on Aug. 23?
If you were in a car in downtown Salisbury, you probably felt like someone was jumping on your back bumper.
If seated, you might have thought someone was kicking your chair.
Well, someone ó or something ó was rocking and kicking our world in 2011. In addition to the quake that centered on tiny Mineral, Va., we were shaken by the lingering effects of the Great Recession and shockwaves emanating from Europeís financial fiasco.
But we wonít rehash all the grim statistics right now.
Instead, letís look at some of the other events and practices from the past 12 months.
Drugs, for instance.
Authorities found more heroin and meth labs in Rowan County last year ó a serious matter. But drugs can cause people to do funny things. Like the guy who led deputies on a chase because he thought they were aliens ó a delusion he blamed on synthetic marijuana.
Then there was the man who flushed 25 bags of heroin down a toilet, forcing authorities to dig up a septic tank to gather evidence. Eww.
And, trust us, thereís no place you can hide a stash of drugs on your body where authorities wonít find it ó and announce to the media.
Smart phones made us do stupid things in 2011, too, like forget to watch where we were going. And Facebook gave us less time to visit face-to-face.
A culinary highlight: Someone finally bought the Dunkin Donuts on Jake Alexander Boulevard and opened it for business. For months, the completed restaurant sat there, taunting passerby with the idea of doughnuts and coffee but no goods to sell.
Thank you, Darshay Mehta and family.
In addition to an earthquake, Rowan County was visited by a tornado in 2011, on April 16, that rendered the neighborhood of Farrington Meadows nearly unrecognizable. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Elsewhere in the state and country, tornados were more deadly than ever.
In June, a slightly less frightening visitor came lumbering through town ó a 250-pound bear, according to witnessesí estimates. ěIt just blowed my mind when I seen that bear,î a Spencer resident told a Post reporter. The bear foraged through dumpsters and is suspected of attacking a bird feeder, but the rest he left unscathed.
Hereís hoping the events of 2011 left you unscathed and we can all look forward to a happy and prosperous new year. Weíre glad 2011 is over and done with. It just blowed our minds.