Day 8 – July 20: Brunch Letdowns, $300 Luck, and Heirloom Memories
- majordetourllc
- Jul 25, 2025
- 5 min read
Our alarms went off early—7:00 a.m.—because none of us wanted to waste a second of our last full day in Okinawa. Slade and Tara were bouncing with energy, ready for Okinawa World, a place Michael and I both politely declined. Don’t get me wrong, Okinawa World has its charms—the limestone caves, glassblowing demonstrations, Eisa dancing—but it also has crowds, humidity, and long lines that we’ve experienced one too many times. So we struck a deal: we’d drop them off and go on our own adventure.
Before heading out, we lounged in the rental for a bit, sipping our vending machine coffees (seriously, I’m starting a petition to import these into the U.S.) and taking in the peaceful morning air. The newly repaired AC units were humming along, and I almost cried with joy knowing I could drink my coffee without sweating.
The Brunch That Broke Our Hearts
Michael and I drove to Camp Foster for what we were both certain would be a nostalgia-packed Sunday brunch. In the past, this place was legendary. Imagine an all-you-can-eat extravaganza with a shrimp bar, sushi station, made-to-order crepes, prime rib carving station—basically heaven on a plate.
But when we walked in, we immediately sensed something was off. Gone were the bustling crowds and the sound of plates clinking. Instead, we were greeted with… silence. The buffet looked like something out of a sad roadside motel: lukewarm scrambled eggs, floppy pancakes, and a lone omelet station. No shrimp. No sushi. No crepes. Just sadness on warming trays.
We sat there, almost in disbelief, whispering like conspiracy theorists:“Where is everyone?”“Did they run out of shrimp forever?”“Are we too early?”
Nope. It was just that bad. We both ate a polite amount, mostly out of habit, but left feeling a bit deflated. The highlight of the brunch? Laughing with Michael as we tried to convince each other the bacon wasn’t that bad. (It was.)
Slots and $300 Magic – Round Three
With time to kill before picking up the kids, we did what any self-respecting couple would do—we gambled. And, I kid you not, we won another $300. That makes three $300 wins in two days. By this point, I was convinced Okinawa was trying to pay us back for all those years of service. Maybe I should’ve pushed my luck and asked for free airfare home.
The Kids’ Adventure & Heirloom Photos
When we picked up Slade and Tara, they were glowing, full of stories about snake shows, crafts, and quirky shops.
Our next stop was official Japanese heirloom photos, something I’ve been dying to do this trip. The studio was just as I remembered—wall-to-wall racks of exquisite kimonos, each one a work of art. As we flipped through the lookbook, I nearly dropped it. On the first page was a photo of Jesse, Laura, and Lillianna from 2014—Our oldest son, daughter, and his girlfriend at the time. The photographer’s eyes lit up when I said I knew them. She even pulled up all our old family photos from 2013. Seeing baby-faced Slade in his first kimono running around brought back so many memories.
Slade and Tara took their time choosing kimonos, and when they stepped out dressed in traditional attire, I almost cried. Tara looked like she had stepped straight out of a Japanese fairytale—graceful and glowing. Slade looked like a samurai prince, so grown up and confident. The photographer couldn’t believe the little boy he remembered had turned into this tall, handsome young man.
Arashi Fried Rice for Lunch
After the photos, we were all starving. And in Okinawa, there’s no better cure for hunger than Arashi Fried Rice. We piled into the car and headed straight there. Walking into Arashi felt like stepping back in time—same smells, same sizzling griddles, same friendly faces.
We ordered our favorites: the fried rice cooked to perfection on the teppan, with that buttery, garlicky aroma filling the air, and Ramen. It was one of those meals that instantly reminded me why we love Okinawa so much—comfort food with memories attached to every bite.
Arcades, Old Friends, and More $300 Luck
After the photo shoot, we went back to the rental to relax for a bit. Slade and Tara couldn’t sit still for long—they were off again to American Village, hitting the arcades, claw machines, and every shop that caught their eye. I think Tara is secretly the queen of Dance Dance Revolution, and Slade is determined to win a ridiculous plush toy before we leave.
Michael and I—predictably—headed back to the slots. And yes, we won another $300! I was starting to wonder if I should buy a lottery ticket or just ride this streak until the end of time.
While there, we ran into an old Navy CWO we used to work with during amphibious ship loadouts at White Beach. He left Okinawa in 2016, retired in 2018, and is now working for MSC here on the island. We caught up for a bit—another small-world moment that made me realize how tightly woven this island is into our past.
Dinner at CoCo’s
By dinnertime, we were all starving and unanimously agreed on one thing: CoCo’s. There’s just something about their food—every dish feels like comfort food for the soul. Slade and Tara devoured their meals, and Michael and I sat there, happy and stuffed, soaking in the moment.
We ended the night quietly, back at the rental. There was this unspoken understanding that tomorrow would be our last full day here, and we wanted to savor every last bit of it.
As I crawled into bed that night, belly full and heart even fuller, I couldn’t help but feel a bittersweet ache. I was excited for tomorrow’s plans—Hiji Falls, the Nago Aquarium, and the floating water park—but the thought of leaving Okinawa made me ache a little. This island is more than just a place we lived; it’s woven into our story. And every time we return, it feels like a piece of our hearts gets stitched back together.
Thanks for taking this detour with me.
Kolleen
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