My first ever earthquake was a routine little one in 1972 while I was on the mezzanine in Pickwick Books. Just an average little shaker. I was very proud to have finally experienced one.
The biggest I felt during my years living in L.A. was the Whittier 5.7 in 1987. I was showering for work and and the shower walls suddenly flexed. When I got out and looked out to where I could just see the pool, there were li'l waves. When I got to work (in the
Earthquake buildings on Wilshire, across from the Wiltern) one of our file cabinets was knocked over.
A few years earlier I was up in Bakersfield standing at our table in a trade show when the Coalinga earthquake happened. Wiki says that was a 6.2, and I can tell you it was a real shaker/roller. That was my only one in the Central Valley.