El gato makes me look "estupida"

I can't say that I'm actually used to earthquakes, but having lived most of my life in Southern California I think I am pretty good at recognizing when the earth is quaking. Sometimes it's so subtle, that all you notice is a hanging lamp or a curtain that is slightly swinging and then you wait for the swift shake that's sure to follow.

I've lived through some big ones, so I would call myself Earthquake Experienced.

So I notice the ornaments on our Christmas tree swinging and immediately I yell, "earthquake!"
(I know these things, remember?)

Just as quickly, Eric corrects me: "Not an earthquake . . . it's a cat!"

Me (tilting my head in a kind of confused puppy way): "huh?"

"El gato esta en el arbolito."

I understood what he said in English. . .
I just couldn't wrap my brain around it in either language because I know a quaking tree can only mean one thing and that is that we're having an earthquake!

Don't panic!
Save yourselves!
Run for your lives!!

Oops. . .