Hawaii - March 2020 - Ch ch ch changes -

On March 3, 2020, Jenna and I and Tempest and Tom flew to Hawaii for 7 days. We had been dreaming of this trip for a year, with planning beginning in January.

We took an early morning flight from SLC to LA, then from LA to Honolulu, arriving about 10am. By the time we got our car and lunch, we were on the road to Laie by 1pm, checked into our place by 3pm, and on the lovely semi-private beach just steps away from our Airbnb by 4pm. The sun was still shining, the water was warm, and we were able to let out a deep sigh - we made it!!!

As I've written before, Jenna and I have traveled together several times over the years. It charges both our batteries - we're great travel buddies, we enjoy each other's company, and neither of us is too high-maintenance.

Except -

The next morning, Wednesday, Tempest and I headed to Ted's for pastries for breakfast, and then we visited our beach, then drove to another, stopped for lunch and shaved ice, then learned the kids could find more marine life at Shark's Cove, a few miles up the road from our place. So off we went.

We walked around the beautiful coral reef, being careful where we placed our feet, watching the little fishies and crabs swim in the tidal pools. I was a little ahead of Jenna and kids. We climbed over the most distant reef, was able to see the ocean wash up onto the reef then fill the tidal pools. I stepped down first, and snap.

I had just been congratulating myself on how cautious and careful I had been, walking these reefs (almost like lava) in my flip-flops, when I stepped down, and my foot just folded in on itself.

Not a good feeling. I looked down, my right foot was turning white, there was a bloody gash on my knee, my hands were bleeding, and I couldn't move.

So - Jenna and kids arrived, we had a quick prayer, and Jenna hollered for help. This was not a quiet cove, and there were probably 100 to 150 people exploring.

A family, I later learned were from Boise, came to our rescue as well as a young woman who was an orthopedic physical therapist. They hopped me over the coral, down into the water, and very carefully, stomach first, onto a boogie/body board. With their help as well as the help of 2 other men, with the PT holding my sore foot up, and with my bloody knee gathering all sorts of bacteria in the water, we made it across the cove.

At the beach-side of the cove there were 4 beach patrol men who helped me off the board, hopping in to the beach and into a "body bag," which they then carried to the road, where an ambulance was waiting.

Humiliating? Helpless? Humbled? Yes, to all 3. I'm grateful for the help, and bummed that I even needed it.

Once in the ambulance, and with oxygen on, my veins had collapsed, due to shock, and they hustled me off to the hospital with a shot of fentanyl to dull the pain.

At the Kahuku Hospital ER, I was placed on a hospital bed, with a wet swim suit. In the meantime, Jenna and kids had followed us there, and she took the kids back to our place for dinner and a movie. Bless them - the most loving patient family ever!

X-rays, Tetanus shot, irrigating and bandaging of wounds (my knee wouldn't hold stitches, and the beach patrol guy told me I'd have a great Hawaiian tattoo), a brace/cast was made for my foot, I was bound up, and with a pair of crutches, we headed back "home."

Mind you, this was the end of day 2, with us having only spent 1 night in our Airbnb, 1 block from the beach. Glory!

We had a wonderful vacation - Polynesian Cultural Center, Pearl Harbor, the Honolulu Aquarium, beaches and beaches and beaches, fun food, and even with rain and crutches, I am so grateful we were able to get this vacation in. Because - 

Once hitting the airport in LA, the world began to crumble - 

On the flight back to SLC, I sat by a young man who was extremely fidgety. I wondered if he was coming off something. And I asked him how he was. His reply, "I work for the Jazz. Shit's coming down today, and I wish I could just stay on the plane." He said to, "Watch the news." 

And of course, the world did change, and 2 Jazz players tested CoVid positive, and March Madness was cancelled. 

On my way from the airport to home, calling in for the morning huddle, I was told to check in with employee health, because I'd been "out of the country," and I would need to be cleared before I could go into the office. 

Which was, actually, of great relief to me, because my foot and leg had doubled in size and were aching terribly. Because - 

Read this - do you remember your "Last Good Day"?