Misery Loves Company

"I'll catch one for you." Brian said as I walked away from him that cold windy afternoon on December 28, 2011. I had just sat nestled in the rocks at one of the pointbreaks in NH, and shot Brian in treacherous dredging conditions. He was out by himself for about 30 minutes, taking off on waves that were sucking out over a shallow ledge on his Longboard. The wind was gusting 35 plus.

I waved my hand without turning back. "I don't want anyone catching waves for me." I thought to myself, as I hobbled away in my "Robo Cop" brace. It's been a few weeks now, and I am not taking to being unable to walk, run, and especially surf to well. I looked at Brian in my driver's side mirror as I got back in my vehicle that afternoon.

"That lucky bastard. He'll be surfing some other spot before the sun goes down. And I'm sure he's already planning his Snowboard adventures for the upcoming winter." I thought to myself as I drove off. "Nevins."

But less than a week later, Brian Nevins would be in the same boat as me.

And while I certainly would not wish any injury on any surfer, or non surfer for that matter, the irony did not escape me as I read his email on January 4th, 2012. Brian broke his right leg (Fibula) on 1-4-12 while shooting Sea Smoke at the Wall. Broke his leg? His right leg? And in his own words, he'll be out for 8-12 weeks. Oh no...he's going to miss snowboarding too!

I felt so freaking bad for him. I felt guilty too. You know, for feeling bad for myself while he got to go surfing, snowboarding, and climbing around getting great photographs. I know I did not cause his accident. But I guess misery loves company. And I am miserable. Buck Rowlee is always telling me to stay positive, and really, if there's anyone who walks that walk, and talks that talk it's Buck.
And I am basically positive most days. It's just harder when the surf is good.

Look, we all know there's a few hundred local surfers out in the water on any given day around here. But how many Surf Photographers are there? A dozen at best. Me and Nevins are down with right leg injury's? Huh? The day after Nevins broke his leg, I got a voice mail from Ed O'Connell.

I damn near spit my coffee through my nose when I heard it.

"Hey Ralph, two of New Hampshire's top surf photographer's with leg injury's within a few weeks of each other? I know a conspiracy when I hear one. I'm not leaving the house until whoever is behind this is captured!"

Funny stuff Ed. Though I admit, it does sound fishy. Maybe you better hide.

In fact, alert the other photographers ASAP! Carden, Sander, Denning, Nichols, and everyone else! This is serious stuff here...ha! I wish it were that simple. I don't know what you'd call it. Just a string a bad luck for Nevins and I. That's all it is. Bad luck.

But speaking of Luck. Buck Rowlee just returned from his Bull Riding Adventure in Kansas this weekend. A lifelong dream was fulfilled this past December 30, 2011 as Buck strapped himself onto a big bull and rode that sucker. Buck was sporting some serious aches and pains when all was said and done. But the one thing he had in his pocket was Good Luck. Turns out he could of been seriously hurt if not for some good luck. But you know what? I'll let Buck tell it to you himself. Check out his blog. http://www.buckrowlee.blogspot.com/

All I can say to Buck is...Dude you did it! You Cowboy'd Up in Life and did it!

There's good luck and bad luck, and there's also sad luck. The inevitable. We are all going to leave this planet one day. When is the big question. But we are all going. Of that we can all agree. I got word today that one of the local surfers here on the seacoast lost his dad today. Bill Stecchi's father David passed away this morning. I know that Bill was close to his dad, and many times over the years we had talked about him.

His father served in the Marine Corps, and I know that had a lasting impression on Bill growing up. Those of us who had parents who served in the military can relate to that. And I am certainly not knocking the other branches of service, but the Marines really do leave a mark on you. And it did with David.

The old saying of saying of "Once a Marine always a Marine" is so true.

So on behalf of the entire seacoast surf community, we want to send out our condolences to Bill, his wife Jan, and their son Jack, on the passing of his father David. We old Marines have always said that the gates in Heaven are guarded by US MARINES...so David is reporting for duty in heaven.

May he Rest in Peace, and as always, Semper Fi Marine...

For those who are suffering losses, or illnesses, head down to the ocean. You will feel better. Whether you surf or not. The ocean has a healing affect.

Remember My mantra "Surfing Heals ALL Wounds..."

Now for some of my Weekly Global Observances:

I don't know about you guys, but I personally had to chuckle at the fool who lost his life this week when he and his other fool partner tried to break into a home with a young mother and her infant son. The poor woman just lost her husband on Christmas Day. He passed away from cancer. Apparently she called 911 and asked permission to shoot her shotgun at the intruders, who were breaking down her door. She had repeatedly warned the fools to back off and go away...all to no avail.

The 911 operator was cool too. She basically said "I can't give you permission to shoot anyone, but you do what you have to do to protect your baby..."

They broke down the door and she calmly leveled her shotgun at the first dope who walked into her field of fire and pulled the trigger. He was killed instantly. The other dope ran away. The police arrested him, and they also said that the woman would not be charged in the killing. Before you think I am being callous here, it is important that you all know, that I am all about gun control. Seriously.

Breathe, relax, squeeze, surprise. Gun Control.

I'm also for Nuclear Weapon Control. The Wacky Iranians basically threatened the US last week saying that if we pass through the international waters near Iran once more they are going to take it as an act of war. Can someone please get through to those losers that getting into any kind of confrontation with the US is NOT a good idea.

This is not the Jimmy Carter years when you can take Americans hostage again. This president may not be doing a great job with our economy and other issues, but one thing is for sure, he will not blink an eye to take you fools out. Especially if it helps him get reelected. If I were you Iranian leaders I would shut the hell up. Shut it.

The Patriots are waiting to see who wins today's Steelers/Broncos game. I secretly hope it's The Broncos. We only spotted them 14 points the last time we played them. In fact, we have spotted the last three teams we played 14 points, 17 points, and then last week's heart attack game against the Bills... 21 points! Then we scored 49 unanswered points. I'd rather we score 49 unanswered points in the first half. My heart can't take another game like that. Go Broncos!!!

The BRUINS...lost a close game to Vancouver Canucks today. Man that was a good game. Go ahead Canucks wave your regular season banner win against the Bruins. It does not change what happened last year.

If Rick Santorum calls my house one more time I'm gonna rip that Mr Rogers Sleeveless sweater off his bony ass! Damn Rick...leave us alone.