Alarming

/ roughwighting

alarm, alarming, PixabayWho turns on their alarm during vacation? That was my cranky question as my guy began to set his phone alarm for a 6:00 a.m. wake up call.

“Sunrise is at 7:07,” he reminds me. So I accede. We’re vacationing at a spot where the sun rises with insistence in bold sherbet colors above the ocean. We have vowed to ooh and ahh at the sun’s wake-up majesty every morning we’re there.

That said, it’s been a long travel day, and I suggest we give ourselves one ‘sleep-in’ morning – maybe even to 6:45 – and use the alarm for each day after. As far as I know, my guy agrees. Plus, he’s not a phonaholic, which translates to he hardly ever answers his phone and proudly gets mixed up between texts and e-mails and the volume button. I have nothing to worry about.alram clock, cell phone, I-phone

But I do worry – profoundly –  when I’m woken from a deep sleep in the middle of the night by a Beatles’ song. “It’s Been a Hard Day’s Night.”

My mom’s song.

For years that’s been the tune set on my phone for whenever my mom calls. I’m sure many of you know that you can set up different ringtones (and songs) for different phone numbers on your I-Phone. When I get phone calls from most people, my phone rings the Beatles song “From Me to You.” Appropriate, But I chose the phone ring of “A Hard Day’s Night” for my mom back when she was calling me once a day. How I wish she could still do that. But she’s been gone for over a year and a half.

So why was she calling me now? Or perhaps a better question would be, HOW was she calling me now? I popped up from bed and searched frantically for my phone. I found it, on my night table.

Turned off.

Beatles, A Hard Day's Night, ringtoneThe song rang again, loud. “A Hard Day’s Night.” I shivered despite the tropical air surrounding me. My guy rose slowly, saying something intelligent like, “Whaaa?”

“Someone’s calling us,” I explain in a tenuous voice. “On your phone, which is out in the living room.”

“Who?” he asks, then adds, “Don’t answer it.”

How can I ignore a phone call at (I glance blurry-eyed at the clock) 5:30 Hawaii time, 10:30 a.m. East Coast time? Maybe an emergency with the family. But no one calls my guy during an emergency. They call me. Plus, he has never, ever downloaded a song onto his phone.

I sink into the pillow and think of my mom. The phone stops ringing.

Five minutes later, “A Hard Day’s Night” blares loudly in the still-dark villa. I jump. My guy groans. “Ignore it,” he says.

Ha. I have never been able to ignore my mom. By the time I reach his phone in the other room, the music has stopped.

sunrise, Kauai, ring tone“Hi mom,” I whisper. Then I slink back into the cool sheets and dream of the sunrise to come.

125 thoughts on “Alarming”

  4. Wow–this certainly has me wondering, especially since you’ve tagged it creative writing and true story.
    Quite a story! I’m never set a ring tone for anyone. I think I’ll keep it that way.😏

    Liked by 4 people

  9. Dreams can be so real. Your story brought back a dream of my own. My car was stolen, and I spent the entire night searching for it — until I woke, so convinced it actually had happened I went outdoors to check and make sure it was still there. Now, calls from the beyond? I’d believe that, too!

    Liked by 4 people

  10. She was thinking of you! How often I’ve headed to the phone to call my Mom to tell her something that’s happened, only to realize she’s gone. She always answered, “Oh, Noelle…” just like we were continuing a conversation all along.

    Liked by 4 people

  11. Truth is stranger than fiction RINGS true here, Pam. As always, a great story; only at the end did I realize you were (probably) dreaming.

    Now I’m trying to guess the vacation coordinates. Hawaii? Boston? Somewhere in between??

    Liked by 4 people

    • That phone ringing “mom’s song” assured me that I was wide awake. Plus, my guy was wakened by it too! He tends to ignore the “whoo whoo” stuff, but I appreciated the wake up call, once I realized it was from love energy. 💕 Yes, we were in Kauai. 🌴

      Liked by 1 person

  12. That gave me shivers, Pam. Miracles do happen. ❤

    And I flip-flop on setting my alarm on vacation. I only set it if there's some good reason to do it. Sunrise counts! But not every day… 🙂

    Liked by 4 people

  14. Sounds like she just wanted you to know she was thinking of you while you were having a much needed vacation. Sometimes, they need to startle you to get your full attention. Then there is no misunderstanding where the call is coming from.

    Liked by 4 people

  16. Wow! Twilight Zone stuff, Pam. I found myself pleased to know this happened. I think your husband and I went to tech school together. I knew that people chose their ringtones, but I didn’t realize that you could select different ringtones for different callers. That’s the best! Of course, my mind is delighted to think up songs for the various people in my life.

    A lyric from an Elton John song is now looping in my brain. “I’m a bitch, I’m a bitch, oh, the bitch is back. 🤣🤣🤣

    Liked by 4 people

    • You are very funny Pete. Yes you and my guy probably went to the same tech school in which an A means you understand nothing at all. 😀
      Considering the song you’re singing in your head, I think you could have quite a good time with a different ringtone for each family member or friend on your phone. 🤓

      Liked by 1 person

  19. I’ve had various kinds of dreams but a phone has never been there even when I am surrounded by water, unable to find a safe way, phone is missing. I’ve always preferred sunsets during vacations. 😀 Welcome back Pam.

    Liked by 4 people

  20. This story is just a re-affirmation that the supernatural does exist. I would, however, have to admonish your mother for calling so early. She must have known you were in Hawaii. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  26. That’s mysterious. I’m glad you found it comforting. My mom was loving but sort of non-intrusive. I don’t think shes would call me. Too bad. That might be nice.

    Liked by 4 people

  28. Wow, is the word that comes to mind, Pam. Sometimes things happen in life that we can’t find an explanation for no matter how hard we dig or think, but I do love your ending when you whispered, “Hi Mom.” 💕

    Liked by 4 people

    • That’s how I feel, Ally. I say “hi mom” when a hummingbird arrives, when a rainbow peeks from the clouds, and when the clock gets my attention at 4:44. Her way of saying Hi, I’m sure. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  31. My dad would call this “a true story that really happened.” Thanks for the treat!

    Enjoy your vacation. I am that person who sets alarms for all things sky-related, regardless of time. Meteor shower peak at 3AM? Alarm set. Even on vacation.

    Liked by 4 people

    • I replied to you in my mind but realized you may not have “heard” my comment. 🙂 I love your dad’s expression of “a true story that really happened.” I may need to “borrow” it, since I write fiction lots, and then when I write a non-fiction piece, like this one, readers are confused – “did that REALLY happen?” We all know life is much stranger than fiction. Here’s to watching the sky, no matter the time of day (or night). ❤

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  32. What a powerful story, Pam! I am probably the biggest Beatles fan in the universe. Last week I played my old Meet the Beatles record album for my preschool class. I can attest to the fact that “She Loves You” is as popular today as it was way back then. But I digress, as the story is about your mom. I believe those who have left us find ways to still be in touch. This has happened to me before, and it is a treasured memory- like yours is.

    Liked by 3 people

  33. Wow, Pam. Isn’t it wonderful when the universe reminds us of what we don’t know and can’t comprehend? That leaves room for endless possibilities, like your mom calling you from wherever she is. Why not, I ask! I loved this. Have a beautiful vacation and enjoy some gorgeous sunrises. ❤ ❤ ❤

    Liked by 2 people

  34. Oh, I believe! It was your mom. Surely it was. Why wouldn’t it be? (Have just sat here for a few minutes thinking of the day when my mom will be gone…sigh…) Glad your mom hugged and sang to you from right around the corner in a nearby dimension. ❤

    Liked by 4 people

  35. Thanks for sharing this reminder that there is still so much in the world we don’t understand. But some things we don’t have to understand, we just have to believe them, I think. And yes, that was your mom…..

    Liked by 4 people

    • YES, Ann, thank you for your affirmation. I was a little fearful of posting this, since some I’m sure will think I’m overexaggerating or looking for signs that aren’t there. But I’m on the side of not having to understand it all, but to FEEL what’s real. ❤

      Liked by 1 person

  38. Oh, my! This story is wonderful and made me tear up a little. My mom has been gone from the physical realm since 2003 and I still miss her every day. I feel compelled to say that I think this was indeed your mom – just letting you know she’s around. I sure wish my mom would call me.

    Liked by 3 people

  41. Crazy story, but so lovely that you and your mom are still “connected,” Pam! I hope you two had a fabulous vacation in the tropics. There’s no way I set my alarm for sunrises, even though they are quite spectacular over the Sea of Cortez, when I stumble across one. 🙂

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  46. I enjoyed reading this post! How I wish my mom could still phone me. She’s alive but has severe memory impairment plus some speech problems after a couple of strokes. I miss seeing her photo pop up on my phone.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Ohhh, Carla, I understand how you feel. For years, my mom and I talked on the phone once a day until her dementia took away her ability – she couldn’t figure out what side was up on the phone. What a loss for her, and me. Amazingly, my daughter kept a voice mail message from her grandmother (my mom) before those phone calls ended, and on her birthday, we listen to it. A gift. Hugs to you. So nice of you to visit! ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      • What a nice idea! I did manage to get a taped conversation on my phone when I visited my mom up in Washington state a few years ago, and it was just as the dementia was starting. I treasure it! My mom now has trouble managing the phone too! The upside is that she always seems cheerful, so she doesn’t seem to be suffering terribly. I’m thankful for that. Hugs back!

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  47. I am a dyed-in-the-wool night owl, and haven’t seen a sunrise in about 5 years, back when my untrained kitty used to wake me up for attention and food. Finally my then-bf-now-hubby convinced me that I was inadvertently rewarding her behaviour. I had to agree! So somehow – I forget how – I got her out of the habit. But I do see gorgeous sunsets from here on the 14th floor! 🙂

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    • I understand. Our rhythms must be listened to. When I met my guy, way back when, I was a night owl also. He was a “morning is the best time of day.” One of us had to change, and with little ones, I didn’t have a choice really anyway. 🙂 And now, I’m a dyed-in-the-wool sunrise riser. But I love those sunsets too. To each his own, but thank goodness we can celebrate the beginning and the endings of each day. Thanks so much for reading and commenting! ❤

      Liked by 1 person

  49. Crazy! I know I would have loved your mom. The other stories you have shared have been special so I have no doubt it was her. She couldn’t call YOUR phone because it was turned off. he he.. I have similar stories of people and animals coming to visit. Truth is stranger than fiction sometimes. Thanks so much for sharing your “Hi Mom” with us! ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thanks for believin’, Kim. Oh yes, and I’m sure she got an extra energy chuckle by messing with my guy’s phone. They were/are so much alike, they often were at odds, which made them so even. xoxox

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