I was always aware that our family had relatives in Rome. My late parents along with my uncles and aunts would travel to Palestrina to visit with family over there. This past week we all had the pleasure of meeting our cousin Dario. We met Dario on Facebook. So as much as we all complain about Facebook, it does have merit and value. For our family to connect with a relative half way around the world is really something special.



When Dario and his friend Daniella showed up at our doorstep it was pretty emotional. Their visit was short as they were on a work project that took them from NYC to Boston. It was a wonderful visit. It's funny because we are the ONLY Fatellos in the US. But apparently we are in abundance in Palestrina.
Who knew? Dario knew. He was hell bent on finding his American relatives. And he did. It was cause for celebration so, we did what every large Italian family does. We ate until our stomachs hurt.


My wife Cory makes a wonderful sauce, so she prepared a typical Italian dinner for our family. It was great. It was amazing to look into the eyes of our relative and see our own reflections. We all hit it off instantly. We were loud and animated as most of us already are. It was evident that we all came from the same stock. Dario kept saying with tears of joy in his eyes. "It's like a dream Ralph." And he was right. A beautiful heartwarming dream.



My brother Johnny and Dario. Don't they look alike? The Fatello family.

We are all planning a trip to Palestrina next September. I want to see Rome, and of course I want to visit with family. Cory and I had already planned a trip to Rome to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. Johnny and Sue are thinking of going, as are Tony and Shelly. It will be so much fun.

Dario is a professional photographer in Rome. It was so cool to watch his creativity as he would take photo after photo after photo. He and I think alike.
He got to see the first two days of Hurricane Gaston. And he saw and photographed Max and his friends. That was funny as well. Dario specializes in portrait photos. His approach to taking pics is much different than mine. He talks with his subjects. But it was hilarious listening to Dario talk to these hardcore surfers.

He would stop them and make them pose. "You are a surfer. You are a Lion."

I was smiling from ear to ear watching this all go down. The boys didn't know what to do, but they all went along with Dario's instructions. Mostly because I told them to. He is going to send me the pics when he gets back to Italy.

So we had Dario visiting along with Gaston sending us surf for a solid week. It never got big, but it did provide the crew with fun waist to head high for days on end. The water was warm and the sun was hot. Gaston couldn't have come at a better time. The surf crew were all chomping at the bit to get out there and surf something with some push. And Gaston gave them enough push to satisfy the wave drought victims.



This was the first day. Monday the 29th of August. Gaston showed up and stayed until Saturday. It was a fun filled week of surf. I think I have a million pics in the 11 galleries in the blog this week.



The skies of Gaston were really beautiful. This was a sunset over the Wall on the 30th. It was so pretty that night.



James Morse having some Gaston fun on the 31st of August. And make no mistake about it. It was fun all week long.

OK speaking of fun. This last Saturday was the 25th anniversary of SURF FAMILY ROBINSON. It was my last one as Captain Ralph. It was hard for all of us to grasp the length of time we spent running this Labor day Weekend Tradition. Think about it. 25 years.

This is the second longest run I have ever had in my life. The other is my marriage to Cory. That's 29 years. So this run came after we had Gabby and Max. I thought it would be fun to have the families of surfers get together at the end of the summer and have one last beach party. I had no idea at the time, it would last this long.



We started in 1992, but didn't start taking group photos until 1993.

It was always the highlight of our kids end of Summer Parties. And it became the same for all the other seacoast kids. I have heard parents tell me over the years how much they all look forward to SURF FAMILY ROBINSON. And honestly? We all had fun. The Fatellos, The Grondins, The Evans, The Goulds were the original families. It just kept getting bigger each year.



And if you don't believe me, just look at this year's crowd.

It was a bittersweet day for me. Spending 25 years putting this party together each year, watching all of our kids grow up before our very eyes. It was part of our lives. SFR became a tradition on the seacoast for all the surfers and their families. I'm happy to say that the tradition will continue with Captain Duffy. He will do a great job. Because I will train his young ass to carry the torch.

I do need to thank all of the volunteers who helped each year. I want to especially thank my two right hand men. William Haffenrreffer and Tony Berardini. William's first SFR was in 94. And Tony's was in 97. They both stayed on board each year after. And I honestly could NOT have done this each year without them. I love you both. I want to also thank my nemesis Pirate Jonas. Played perfectly by Stan Bocko. We have had a few PJ's before Stan and none of them could hold a candle to the performance that Stan put on each year.

Those kids went home each year babbling about Pirate Jonas. And each one of them couldn't wait until the following year, to do it all over again.



And lastly, I need to thank my wife and kids for putting up with the insanity each year. Cory has helped me every single time. We always had fun shopping for the loot earlier in the week. It was our special SFR moment. Like this pic above taken the night before the party. I'm actually holding a toy Monkey Tail? Can you believe it? Any way, I love you baby. We have next labor day weekend open.

"Surf Family Robinson Heals All Wounds"

This is from 2013. Another unknown. I'm pretty sure I know where the pic was taken, I just can't ID the rider. If anyone knows this guy, let me know. Regardless, it's a perfect photo. The timing, the light, the position of the surfer. It all came together for Ed on this one.

To see more of Ed's pics just scroll through the archives. He has shot so many pics for the blog. Be sure and pick up a copy of the COLD COAST and check out Ed's own gallery.
Each week I will feature one of Ed's great pics from this blog. Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.

Here's something fun to look at.



Our granddaughter (above) Avery at her first SURF FAMILY ROBINSON wearing the same wetsuit her mother Gabby
wore 25 years earlier. Seen walking with her Godfather and Uncle Johnny.





The 15th anniversary of 9-11 is this coming Sunday. Please join us at the American Legion hall in Hampton for our annual re dedication of our GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM Monument. Sunday. September 11th, 2016



I have not not seen or heard of a paid purse for a surfing contest in these waters for as long as I can remember. But Sid and the crew at Water Brothers are doing just that.
See above and get that $100 entry fee in.

Another Surfer's Paddle 9-10-16



Then later that night in Newburyport.



Now for Some More Of My Weekly Global Observances
The sad news about the powerful earthquake in Italy was felt by all of us here at my home. With relatives visiting from Italy it was closer to home then it might have been otherwise. Our thoughts and prayers for the families who lost loved ones.

KSM Photoshop of the Week
I used to imagine Pirate Jonas looking something like KSM. Let's face it, he's got that Pirate look to him.



As always... take advantage of this weekly photo shop of the mastermind who planned 9-11 and resulted in the deaths of 3,000 innocent civilians by KSM (Khalid Sheik Mohammed).

*Note to self -must pick up a case of Parrot food at
Home Depot this week.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Max Fatello September 14th, 2016
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Michael Colby September 14th, 2016

Please Pray for local Hampton surfer Terry Morrison and his family. Also please pray for Marine SSGT George Masten.
A combat Marine who served in Korea and Vietnam. He was awarded the purple heart for wounds received in Vietnam in 1967. George is battling cancer.
PLEASE say a prayer for him.

Please Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 11 years.
** BUY a HIGH RES Photo from any of the weeks on RPOTW.

Remember my friends... Surfing Heals All Wounds.
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.

Ralph

*Click on the photo above to see a larger version

(Above) All the kids had fun. And make no mistake about it, everyone at
SFR is a kid. Hannah Vokey. September 3rd, 2016 Photo by FATELLO
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Here's a few precious expressions for you. September 3rd, 2016
Photo by FATELLO *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- Hurricane GASTON August 30th, 2016.
Photos by Martha Lardent



(Above) This was the session I missed. MVF backing his way into a
lime green face. August 30th, 2016 Photo by Martha Lardent
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Kody Grondin pushing his weight around. His thick hockey legs are no match for anything under six feet. August 30th, 2016 Photo by Martha Lardent
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Becca Speak squirting around a crowded line up. August 30th, 2016 Photo by Martha Lardent *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Holy Crap Batman! Everyone told me how crowded it was this session. It wasn't until I saw Martha's pics when I realized the full magnitude of the
crowd August 30th, 2016 Photo by Martha Lardent
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Mackey making the best of a funky evening session.
August 30th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) I couldn't help but look up this night. August 30th, 2016
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Tom Hay flying in the shadows. August 31st, 2016
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) This wave looks better than it was. August 31st, 2016
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) You really can't complain when you are greeted with this scene.
August 31st, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- The SEQUENCES of GASTON
August 29th, 30th, 31st, and Sept. 1st, 2016.
Photos by RALPH



(Above) Kody Grondin in a rocking LB sequence. August 31, 2016
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) So we're standing in the wet sand after their session. Max, Tommy Hay, and myself. When a small set shows, Mackey says "I could probably get back out there and catch one." Tom throws out "I bet you can't!" So did he get one? Check the gallery and find out. September 1st, 2016
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- The GASTON Pics from Brett Zola
August 30th, 2016. Photos courtesy of Brett Zola



(Above) Brett Zola slotted. Check out this cool gallery.
August 30, 2016 Photo courtesy of Brett Zola
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Like father, like son. Kai Zola. August 30, 2016
Photo courtesy of Brett Zola
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery


Today- The MIDNITE MADNESS Pics
August 27th, 2016. Photos by MAX



(Above) The Madness that is CR's sale of the year.
August 27th, 2016 Photo by MAX
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Dave and Heather making it happen year after year.
August 27th, 2016 Photo by MAX
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery