The Story Behind the Plate: The Day I Locked Down a Military Base Over a Bowl of Bananas and a Silent Panic Button

Catherine Richey
Jun 21
3 min read

January 2023 Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX

For over a decade, I've had the privilege of cooking in all kinds of kitchens—from private estates to historic military homes. One of the most memorable has to be the Pershing House, the official residence for the commanding generals of US Army North.

I’ve cooked in that kitchen for five different generals, each of whom brought their own style to the same space—new curtains, new trinkets, and a new chapter in the home's long story. But nothing prepared me for the night I accidentally triggered a base-wide lockdown with a bowl of bananas and a silent panic button.

Here's what happened:

We were prepping for a high-level dinner with dignitaries from multiple countries. As always, I was focused, working quickly and calmly to get everything ready before guests arrived.

I needed a little extra space on the kitchen counter—so I moved a large fruit bowl onto a nearby cabinet that just had a lamp on it.

Moments later, the military police and a SWAT team burst into the kitchen.

They surrounded the house. Locked down the entire base. Closed the gates.

And the reason?

The bananas. Or more specifically, the silent alert panic button hidden under them, which I had unknowingly triggered.

I froze. The appetizers were almost ready. The guests were on their way. And suddenly, I was the reason for a military lockdown.

The general came into the kitchen, lifted the bowl, and simply said: “Good training exercise.”

I exhaled. Smiled. And kept cooking.

The Coaching Lesson Behind the Chaos

That moment taught me more than how to avoid banana bowls in government housing.

It reminded me that:

➤ Sometimes we trigger chaos without realizing it.

You’re going about your life, doing your best—and suddenly, everything feels like it’s falling apart. But not all chaos is catastrophic. Sometimes it’s just an unexpected redirection.

➤ We can still serve something beautiful after a disruption.

Even after the base was locked down, we plated the food, hosted the guests, and created a memorable night. Mistakes didn’t ruin the mission—they became part of the story.

➤ Humor, humility, and grace are powerful tools.

When you lead with calm, even after a misstep, people follow your energy. We made light of it, sent food to the military police with a handwritten apology, and laughed about it for months.

If you're navigating a season of unexpected alarms...

If you’ve found yourself accidentally setting off the emotional “panic button” in your own life, I want you to know this:

You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be willing to keep showing up, Keep plating the next dish, the next decision, the next moment.

Because sometimes, the most meaningful transformations start with a mess.

And every good story—every good life—has a little chaos baked in.

💭 Reflection Prompt:What’s a “banana bowl moment” you’ve experienced lately—where something went wrong, but you kept going anyway?

📬 Want help turning your own chaos into clarity?Let’s talk about coaching. I help ambitious, heart-centered people realign with what matters, even when life feels unpredictable.

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Because no matter what the day throws at you...It all starts at the table.