I suspect that everyone is all too well aware… as CNN has reported so “dramatically” - Today’s Tsunami warning came, AND WENT, with little more than a “drop in the bucket!” But, it was a good exercise in “Just what do I really care about enough to pack and fit in my car; knowing that my home and any remaining possessions could be washed away by Lunchtime?” All in all I think I did pretty good, so I'm pleased about that.
Things got off to an early start, being awakened by the rattle of my Cell phone going off... with youngest Daughter Amanda sounding the Alarm at 4:00am this morning, due to an 8.3 earthquake in Chile. Amanda then promptly took herself to Walmart (who'd elected to stay open all night) to stock up on necessaries… Daughter Kelly (a Veterinary Aide at the Maui Humane Society) and had been tapped for EVACUATION SHELTER DUTY as part of her responsibilities there, and so had to leave her Family (high and dry at the 2,400 foot level on the side of Haleakala) at 6:00am to head to the Shelter, and called to check on her Dear ol' Dad on her way in. I placed a call to My own Dear Mother at 7:00am, at her new home - Roselani Place - fearing that she would be stressing, only to have her reassure me that she "WAS JUST FINE." She'd already had breakfast, and they we’re planning on having a "party" up on the Fourth Floor!
Another of the "high points" of my day was whilst searching about collecting things I discovered $200.00 I'd tucked away who knows when, had totally forgotten about, and otherwise may have never found. As my good Friend Sherry Lynn Patterson likes to say, "Right action is happening!"
So - what did I take? Well the top priorities were my T-Shirt collection; my Disney "Cars" collection; my 1953 scale model Agajanian Special #98 Indy Car; a dozen or so "Family Photos"; my Waterford Crystal Decanter & Snifter; my 1996 LYC Commodore's Mug; 1/3 of my Art collection; my Coin collection (which took the most tine and effort to search out and pack up); 3 boxes (about 1/4 of my Collection) of my favorite DVD's and the Player; my brand new Keurig Coffee maker (which I just love) 1 File box of "important papers" and photographs; my Laptop & a bag of "wires"; both pair of my long pants and the Blue Blazer; 3 Heineken's; and a weeks supply of ENSURE!At 9:00am I headed out of town and up to a good Friend’s house (Jeff owns Volcano Crator's a Crating company), about 1,200 feet, above Laniopoko Park. It was rather eerie with no cars around. They had announced the roads would be closed at 10:00am so I'd put it down to the last minute to "get out of town."
So, up at Jeff & Jill Kaiser's we had a great view of the “Lahaina Fleet” heading offshore (about 90+ vessels), about a third of which can be seen in the photo at the right, and that's Lanai in the background. Also easily seen, it was a typically beautiful day in Paradise. where they were treated to considerable Whale activity all afternoon. Among the Fleet was Friend Tom Warren aboard KAMEHAMEHA.
Jeff & Jill were kind enough to open their home to many Folks who wound up with no place to go... Among them a couple from Oregon who'd been staying at the Hyatt Kaanapali Beach, who'd been rousted from their room at 5:00am, and told "to leave now" and weren't even allowed to grab any of their belongings. Now that was a little rude. Anyway, Jeff has been a personal Friend since 1982, and I don't think I know a nicer guy. As you can see in the photo below, we had a great vantage point to witness the arrival of the Great Tsunami of 2010...
Then as it turned out… with Sirens blaring, Helicopters cruising low along the shoreline, and Then, with all the roads closed (that’d be the one and only Honoapiilani Hwy.) the much reported and cautioned event came and went at 11:14am! Followed by several equally un-noticeable “after-waves.” And that was that.By 1:00pm it was quite evident that nothing much was gonna happen. I decided to head down the hill, to get in line and await the re-opening of the Highway. Well, as that turned out, I was in for another 1 hour wait, but at least I was about 7th in line. The real nice thing about that turned out to be good Friend Stephanie (known to her Peers here in Lahaina as Auntie Panty because she owns Lahaina Lingerie) showed up 2 cars behind, and we were able to share a Heineken and "chat" while waiting.
Once they finally opened up the road it was an easy drive back into town. The strangest sight was seeing a total of four cars in the Safeway parking lot, where there's never less than about 144! So now there’s a car full of “stuff” awaiting to be unloaded and trudged back into my humble domain… well, it’s just gonna have to wait, as I’m beat! Nap time, and then hopefully after a little “snack” it’ll be Bed time. Tomorrow’s another day…
"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." -- Ernest Hemingway
