And the Wind Began to Howl

It occurred to me the other day, during that insane windstorm of just how dependent we have all become on modern technology.
There I was, working as fast as I could on my computer trying to size photos, and drop them into galleries as the lights flickered.

I kept hitting SAVE. I learned that lesson years ago. Save and save often. I looked outside and watched the trees bend, and the sound of the wind hitting my office windows was deafening. The lights kept blinking. I knew it was only a matter of time.

Then it happened. That snapping sound. No power. Oh no!

I sat there and stared at my computer as the sound of the power leaving it's body slipped away. Then silence. Except for the wind outside. I checked all my devices and they were all down. I did have cell service so I was not completely devoid of human contact. And then I did something that gave me hope.

I laughed out loud at the absurdity of my situation.

Who cares if we have no power? Are we that tied in to our devices that we can't adjust to a temporary power outage? I thought back to my early childhood and how we would spend days without power. I thought about my time in the Marine Corps in the infantry, out in the jungles and mountains of Southeast Asia with no power.

The more I reflected, the more I laughed. Then I did what any surf photographer would do. I grabbed my camera and went out into the wind looking for more images to shoot and to document.

[PHOTO 1] And I was not alone. My good friend Ed O'Connell was out too.

It is impossible to shoot the wind. The wind is transparent. You can however shoot the effect the wind has on solid and liquid objects. Like this photo that Ed shot. This is wind. It was gusting out there at almost 60 knots.

People were out surfing. My son Max was one of them along with a handful of others. Like Perry Reynolds, Mike Stanek, Kenny Linseman, Jon Kiskinis among others. If you have ever surfed in conditions like this, you know how difficult it is to see, let alone catch a wave and surf. It is blinding. Like having a fire hose in your face. Stinging and blinding. Suffocating.

Almost like waterboarding. In fact, they may want to take terrorists out in the ocean the next time it's blowing this hard. Bet they'd get all kinds of information.

[PHOTO 2] Speaking of surfing. Saturday in Rye, the deliberative session concerning Article 15 (surfing ordinances) came up before the town officials and I am happy to report that everything turned out well for both the town and the surf community.

Thanks to Summer Sessions Ryan and Ty McGill, NH Surf Rider, and Cinnamon Rainbows. Here's a letter that Dave Cropper posted on his Facebook page:

"Thank you to everyone who came out today in support of the Amendments to Article 15. I was very proud to be able to speak and to be a part of the deliberation process. Witnessing the Rye Selectmen, town citizens and concerned citizens of surrounding communities speak so poignantly about their concerns and reach a resolution was humbling. The end result was the acceptance of the "McGill Amendment", which was unanimously voted into effect! Going forward, there will be infrastructure and communication in place which will ensure that everyone is able to safely enjoy the town beaches of Rye.

After watching the democratic process unfold today, I couldn't help but think that THIS is the way government and politics are supposed to work; voices being heard, information being shared and concerned, responsible members of communities spanning many generations, working together to make educated decisions. It was truly a patriotic moment for me.

Thank you to the Rye Board of Selectmen, The McGill Brothers of Summer Sessions Surf Shop, The Citizens of Rye, NH Surfrider Foundation and the local surfing community on a job well done!

Dave Cropper-Cinnamon Rainbows Surf Co"