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April
4th, 2010 EASTER
Sunday
& Passover
The Surf Count of Waist High or Better
is 57 out of 59 weeks, or 7 for 7...
Today
is Easter Sunday and hundreds of thousands...no scratch
that. Millions of Christians all over the world
are celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The entire
Christian faith is based on this most holy of holy days.
The day that Jesus ascended into heaven. If you're a Christian,
you believe it to be true. If you are from some other faith, you
more than likely, do not believe it. The Resurrection.
For non Christians and atheists, it's a hard one to accept. It
was hard to accept even for the close followers of Jesus
who actually hung out with him. I mean think about it, one day
he's buried in a tomb and the next day he is gone. And then he
appears to his disciples and more importantly, to Mr Doubting
Thomas himself to assure them that "Yes this is happening."
It's not been called the Greatest Story ever told for nothing.
I am not ashamed, or afraid to say, that I believe it.
And I base my belief on the many personal experiences that have
happened to me, that I know to be true.. Because , they happened
to me, and I've had eye witnesses to some of them. And yet, some
of these experiences, were debunked by local Catholic Priests
who claim, that they were neither a message from God, or a coincidence.
But I knew better. When I was saved last winter, and had accepted
Jesus back into my life as my savior, a local Reverend
said to me, that the experience I shared with him, were indeed
a sign from God. But again, I already knew that. I also know that
writing about religion, is like writing about politics. I'm bound
to piss some people off. That's why I have the disclaimer on my
entry page. These are my opinions, and my opinions only. They
do NOT reflect the sponsors who appear in the column on the right.
Although, some may believe what I believe, while others may not.
It's my opinion.
But this is Easter. The day Jesus Christ was
Resurrected.
And if I can't talk about religion on this day, than what day
can I talk about it? Christmas and Easter. The birth
and the death of one of the most influential human beings, who
ever walked on this earth. Jesus Christ. This is heavy
stuff. And it will always be that way. Long after we are all gone,
the subject of Easter will be discussed and dissected,
and re-dissected, until one of two things happen. Jesus actually
comes back to judge the Living and the Dead, or the world finally
blows up from some Madman or some Natural disaster. Like I said...this
is some heavy stuff.
Look you need to know. I don't attend Mass every Sunday. I don't
put a $20 bill into the collection box every time I attend
Mass. I'm not buying my way into heaven. I am still going to be
who I am. I will sin. I will curse. I will do things that are
not very Christian like. I am like anyone else out there. I am
far from perfect. But I am trying. I do know that God will
forgive me for my sins, because he loves me and everyone else
out there. The believers and non believers. And I know, that when
my time comes, I will ascend into heaven., because of my faith.
And because, I honestly try to be a good person most days.
I am always volunteering. I stop and help people along the way.
They may be little things, but at least I am trying. And I will
say this with 100% conviction, I don't believe I know anyone,
who is truly a bad, or evil person. I know plenty of hotheads,
and those with little or no patience. But I don't know, or put
it this way, I don't associate myself with anyone, even remotely
bad or evil. Even that bloated, loud mouth gas bag, down in Massachusetts.
There is some good in him. You just don't see it as often as you
see the other parts of him. I have seen it and witnessed it. The
Pirate has some good traits. You just have to open your
own heart and mind to see it.
There is however evil in this world. And we must all be vigilant
and willing to stand up to this evil, and fight it. Even sacrifice
our own lives to fight it. If it means saving our loved ones,
we must fight it.
Speaking of witnessing things. This week I saw several things
that I would like to share with you. The first happened on Wednesday,
March 31st, 2010. I was down shooting the surf at a semi famous
break when I noticed two semi elderly ladies trying to walk through
the vehicles that were lined up in front of the break. I was talking
with Dave Cropper and Toby Parke. This one lady
was carrying something in her had. She was black and her friend
was white. They looked like good buddies. They seemed to be in
a quandary, as far as where they could walk. I thought they wanted
to get up on the rock Bern, and make their way south. So I offered
to help them both climb up. That's when the black woman said.
"Is it OK if I walk down to the ocean? I want to spread my
husband's ashes on the water."
"Of course you can. This is not a surf contest. Do you need
any help?" I answered. "No, I'll be fine, I just want
to be able to spread his ashes on the ocean. I do this every year
on the day he passed away." She said. "That's sweet
mam. Do you mind me asking how long he's been gone?" I asked.
"14 years...I still miss him." She said as she started
to get choked up. "Mam that is such a wonderful tribute that
you have kept going. A loving bond that has transcended into the
next world." She shook her head in agreement, as she and
her friend walked by me and down to the ocean. Then I said to
her. "You know you are going to see him again some day."
She looked at me and nodded again. "But not yet...you still
have things to do here. Bu you will see him again." She smiled
and went down to the water and spread the ashes she had with her.
She got wet from an inside wave. But it didn't matter. She had
her private moment with her husband.
I wanted to share that story with you, because it is surf related.
I mean, I would not have been there if there was not surf that
day. It made me feel good. This woman still loved her late husband
that much, that she kept this annual pilgrimage to the ocean,
to perform this simple loving task, in her late husband's memory.
I thought about another person I know very well, who is the complete
opposite.
Her husband passed away, and less than two years later, she had
moved on from his life and possessions and started a new life.
Not to say that she was not mournful at her loss. She just met
someone new and started over again. Two different humans, dealing
with the same situation, and taking two different tacks.
The other incident happened on Friday morning around
6:00AM.
I woke up in my bed like I always do. My wife was already up,
and letting the dog out, and the kids were just starting to stir,
when I noticed something, that took my breath away. My right hand
was extended out across my pillow, and it was open (or cupped)
as if I was holding something. When my eyes focussed better, that's
when I saw it. On my master bathroom door. The same door, I have
looked at every single day, for years, but have NEVER noticed
it until that morning, had the distinct shape of a cross. And
the way, my hand was laying on my pillow, it looked like, I was
holding a cross. So big deal you say. Well it wouldn't ordinarily
be, except for one thing. This was Good Friday. The day
that Jesus carried his cross on the way to his crucifixion.
Coincidence? Maybe. But it took this day, for me to see, what
I had more than likely have done many times before but just never
noticed.
I was holding a cross on Good Friday.*There's a still
photo reenactment of the story shown below.
In the first story I mentioned surf. On Saturday when I
was making the rounds, hanging up posters for the BIG Blues/Rock
Show at the end of May, Steve O'Hara my longtime
friend, and fellow surfer and owner of Pioneers in North
Hampton, NH said to me, that he had surfed for 7 consecutive
days that were "Waist High Or Better". Now before
you go claiming BS on this, think about who said this. Stevie
O'Hara. Or as Kevin Grondin calls him. O'Guru.
And I for one, would never question Stevie's claims as
far as wave size goes. He knows what he's talking about. So let's
stop and think about this for a moment. This week marks, 57
out of 59 weeks. Or 7 for 7 weeks. But must now include
7 consecutive days of waist high or better surf. Can you
dig this my brothers and sisters?
Hold
on...the NEW HD wave cam on Cinnamon Rainbows wave
cam will be back on Monday. No need to panic. They just
had to work out a few glitches. So look for the HD (in your
face) cam to return on Monday. Whew! I was just getting used
to that baby...that's cool we can wait.
A special shout out to the Silver Anniversary couple of
my generation. Lenny and Arlene Nichols celebrating 25
years of Marriage. That's amazing. Congrats to both. Lenny
and Arlene have 5 kids- Chris, Nohea, Julia, Hoku
and Kai and a whole bunch of surfing all over the globe under
their belts. They seem to never age. Maybe surfing really is the
fountain of youth. Congrats again guys.
25 years and still going strong.
Don't forget The Nor'easters will be performing at the
Winnacunnet High School Auditorium on Saturday May 29th,
2010 for a fundraiser concert to raise money for the Hampton
American Legion's GWOT Memorial Monument .(*See flyer in this
week's column.) I know there are a lot of old "Easter's"
fans out there. And let me say...the band has not missed a beat.
We rocked last weekend and we are looking forward to playing in
front of our old and new fans in May.
Look who's blowing into town...The Nor'easters!
Now
for some of my weekly Global observances:
So
our US NAVY took out some nasty, rat faced Pirates
this week off the coast of Somalia. They say that the pirates
fired on the US NAVY warship at night, not realizing who
they had fired on. Can you imagine the surprise, those skinny
little bonehead Pirates got when they figured out who they
shot at? Oh man...now there's a YouTube I'd love to see.
Freaking Pirates..WTF?
And what is up with that wacked out Militia group that was plotting
to kill US lawmen last week? They call themselves Hutaree.
They arrested 9 of these losers and honestly they should
put these clowns away for life. The sad thing is they claim to
be Christians. Really? What Christian group would
plot something so evil as that?. Sorry boys, but you were working
for Satan. God wants nothing to do with you and
your radical beliefs. Have fun in jail.
The President of the United States of America flew over
the seacoast the other day viewing the flood damage. There was
surf too. And our man Ed O'Connell may have captured the
pres checking the surf out. Oh oh, that guy is from Hawaii,
I hope he's not calling his friends who surf, and telling them
about the surf he discovered in New England...oh no. The
horror...the horror...
This just in...the Apple I-PAD was released on Friday
and all the Apple Cultists are going crazy. Personally,
I don't get the hype. I mean, I see the need for something bigger
than those damn Crackberrys but to be denied watching videos?
Are you kidding me? Hey Mr Jobs...ever hear of YouTube
or Vimeo? Hello? Your little Apple munchkins need
to see their peeps on the viddy. Get that worked out ASAP or the
I-Pad will go the way of the Floppy...
Happy
EASTER to all the GOOD Christians April 4th, 2010.
Happy Passover to all the GOOD Jews.
Happy 25th Anniversary Lenny and Arlene Nichols. April 3rd, 2010.
KEEP Getting Stronger Kim Grondin! We ALL Love you!
Please
give to the RED CROSS or some other trusted organization
to help the people in Haiti and Chile. Like the
RED CROSS. www.redcross.org
Help these people. Please.
*Check out the NEW updated
DROPPING
IN ON RALPH blog Section. ALL
Of MARCH 2010 is up and a few from April. Including a nasty exchange
between me and a local Kayakker. *This is the blog section of
this website where you can write in and comment. The only downside
of this blog is, you actually have to use your REAL Name. No hiding
behind some fake handle and name. If you want to comment, you
have to man up, and be yourself. I will post all comments, both
good and bad. You just have to be yourself.
*Molly Paddle Video by Joe Carter has been
moved to the Community
Page.
Please
Support ALL The photographers who contribute to Ralph's Pic
Of The Week
every week for the last 6 years. **Think about BUYING a Photo
from any of the weeks
on RPOTW as a GREAT Gift Idea. A nice framed photo of your favorite
Surfer!
Remember
my friends...Surfing Heals All Wounds....
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.
Ralph
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