Californication- A family history of avoiding disasters in the Golden State

Early this morning at 3:45 AM (PT) a gasoline tanker exploded where I-80 meets 1-880 , or more importantly where traffic funnels onto the Bay bridge which connects Oakland to San Francisco. This is the exact same section of highway that I traveled multiple times when I went to visit my brother a few weeks ago. It is also a roadway that he and his fiance take everyday to and from work. Luckily, given the time of the incident, no one was hurt (with the exception of the driver who suffered from 2nd-degree burns). Another time of day and who knows.

This brings up an interesting topic. I am starting to believe that where my family goes in CA disaster seems to follow. I now have three examples to support said theory:

1. The Bay Bridge explosion of 4.29.07 (Described above)

2. The San Francisco Earthquake- 1989

A member of my family was also present when the upperdeck of the Bay Bridge crashed onto the lower during the earthquake of 1989. My father was on a business trip at the time and driving when the quake struck. He was literally ready to turn onto the bridge minutes before the disaster, but exited the freeway to stop at a toy store and purchase a gift for my brother and me. As it turns out, the decision to buy some MicroMachines on that day may have saved his life. 63 others across the Bay area were not as lucky. Lesson: think MicroMachines when panic strikes.

3. The L.A. Riots- 1992

In 1992 the beating of Rodney King by L.A. police officers on camera led to an eruption of violence across the streets of Los Angeles. It just so happens that my family was vacationing in the city that day and were leaving Universal Studios in our rental car when the events began. As we got to our hotel in San Diego, late that night, we were told by the concierge that unknowingly our decision to leave the city of angels that night had been one of the best we'd ever made.

Do these three incidents mean something more than coincidence? We're either too satisfied with our luck to question it or I'm reading into this too much.