Forty years ago, everyone in the Portland area felt the earth move.

Yes, 1980 was a heady time for sexual liberation, but we’re talking about the epic eruption of Mount St. Helens.

The volcano in Washington state blew its top on May 18 of that year, mowing down some 200 square miles of forest and killing 57 people. The blast threw ash thousands of feet into the air, pulling a dark veil over the region.

Journalists and authors have been telling the story of the eruption for four decades. But we know there are still more compelling tales to tell about it -- including, perhaps, yours.

What do you remember about the day Mount St. Helens erupted? What do you recall about the weekslong runup to the eruption as the mountain burped and coughed? Or the aftermath, as people ventured out amidst ash-coated streets? Please fill out the form below to tell us your story. We’ll share as many as we can on OregonLive and in The Oregonian.