Vacation in Paradise

I stood at the window, appreciating the hibiscus and plumeria, marveling that we were staying in the Eisenhower cottage. General Eisenhower had stayed here when he traveled to Hawaii to inspect and inspire troops during World War II. I could hear our son Matthew and his wife Christine moving around in their room, my husband John had just finished his shower when his phone began blaring a warning siren. There were words we couldn’t interpret, as a blast from Matthew’s phone added to the cacophony. Christine’s phone trumpeted, and mine joined the clamor. We rushed together into the living room, each of us staring at our screens with disbelief and horror.

BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

Three of us turned to John, surely our general would know what to do! He looked as confused and unsure as we were. I suggested he call the lodging front desk. After all, we were staying on a military reservation. Surely they would have a plan. No such luck. We momentarily encouraged each other with the idea that certainly the missile’s destination would be Oahu and the military installations there. Since we were on the Big Island, would we be spared? Unfortunately, my brother Glenn was at Pearl Harbor on a short deployment. We had attended a Luau with him just yesterday!

I sent a text to our son Benjamin and daughter-in-law Sarah, parents of our 3-month-old only grandchild telling them I love them and please make sure Katherine knows her grandma and grandpa love her. I don’t know what the others did during this brief pause, but when I looked up from my phone one of us said, “What do we do now?” Christine suggested, “Let’s eat, we may as well die full.” I said, “I love you guys.” And we walked to a little cafe for breakfast.