May 18 is the Anniversary of Mount St. Helens’ 1980 Eruption — Where Were You?

May 18 marks the 35th anniversary of Mount St. Helens erupting. Back in 1980, the massive Washington state volcano erupted, killing 57 and changing the lives of thousands.Mount St. Helens is an amazing volcano. I have much respect for such as mass.

I remember when it erupted. I didn't even live in the state of Washington. I lived in Wyoming. When St. Helens blew I was sitting in our elementary classroom in Wyoming. Our teacher broke the news as if it were Old Faithful in Yellowstone, which was less than an hour away from where I lived then.

Our teacher said that just because Mount St. Helens was four states away didn't mean we wouldn't get some of the aftermath.

Weeks later, he was right. Our skies in Wyoming and Utah were dark and ashy from the eruption. It is weird to me that it traveled so far.

My parents and I took our vacation that summer to Washington and it was still very overcast from the eruption due to ash. We stopped at a store in Walla Walla and they had trinkets for sale. My mom bought me a little deer figurine that was made out of Mount St. Helens ash. I love my deer and still have it to this day.

What were you doing on May 18, 1980, when the eruption occurred?