March 1980 eruption of Mount Saint Helens. I had just turned 5 (45 now). https://t.co/4BgMNYYnNZ
— Emily Lakdawalla (@elakdawalla) April 22, 2020
Same for me! I was 3, just about to turn 4. I’m 43 now. I didn’t really understand what a mountain was, having never seen one, nor how it could explode — but I do remember the idea that the earth or part of it could just go kablooey concerning me greatly.
That’s not my earliest memory, but it’s the first major news event that I recall knowing anything about.