I'm going to keep these banner ads promoting the premiere of The GRANITE GIRLS and The River Women here on the BLOG right up until the week of the premiere. Check it out at Ashworth by The Sea on Hampton Beach.

THURSDAY JULY 12th 2018 at the ASHWORTH 6:00PM to 9:00PM

So it's Father's Day weekend. This is my 28th year as a father, and my 5th year as a grandfather. I think I'm getting this whole concept down by now. I would be lying if I said I didn't like being a father and a grandfather.

Truth is, I love it. It's almost as though I was destined to be a father and grandfather since day one. I never got to meet my grandfathers, but I got to see my own father interact as a grandfather. And I've learned a lot about both from my late father Gus. And honestly? There was nobody better than my dad.



I learned how to do selfies before they were called selfies. Here's my dad's version of a selfie in the early 50's. And this was with a Bell and Howell Movie camera. My dad took selfies from the 40's right up until he passed away in 2000. I have been doing them since the 60's.

My dad was a good father to all six of the Fatello siblings. He kept us laughing. And of all the things that my father taught me, it's that one thing that I cherish the most. Keep them all laughing. Because in the end, that's the one thing you want them to remember you by. "He made us all laugh."



This was something I did for a father's day gift to him in 1992. I have this photo that my late Uncle Ralph took of me and my father when I was a year old. I had Cory take a photo of me with our son Max trying to mimic the exact scene. Though we didn't get it perfect, it was close enough to make for a long lasting gift. It was still hanging in my late parent's home right up until we sold it in 2008. I now have it hanging in my "Man Cave" along with other memorable photos. And there are many. Like this one below.



This pic was taken by my late sister Evamarie on Father's day June 21, 1998.
Max and I with a couple of Garter Snakes.



Here's a family photo of all of us surfing in 2004. It was my birthday, and my wish was for all of us to go for a surf. And we did up at Sawyers Beach. The water was super warm and the waves were big enough to surf. And we all caught waves. I'd love to be able to experience that again in my lifetime.



This was taken a year before in 2003 down in Costa Rica. And while it was a great surf trip, it was mostly Max and I getting to go surfing. Gabby is now a full time mom and Noelle is saying that her and her friend are going to get back into surfing. Cory is basically a surf photographer these days, but she has also expressed an interest to go out for some small summer waves. Suffice it to say Max and I have done our share of sharing surf sessions.



This is one of my favorite photos. I can remember this like it was yesterday. I'm hoping that I'll be able to share some waves with my grandkids before I leave the planet. Because I know that they would be a riot out there.



The key to introducing surfing to your kids and grandkids is to take it slow and easy. And you have to expect to have setbacks. They might not like it at first. In fact, they might not like it all. So you have to go into these with a smile and a lot of laughing. Why? Because surfing is supposed to be fun. So make it fun.



My late father-in-law Jerry (Cory's father) shown here with our oldest Gabby, was all about having fun with the kids. And all three of our kids will attest to that. "Grampy" was fun. And though he left this earth way too early (65yrs old), none of us will ever forget him.



This is Grandpa (John) and thank God he is still with us.

John is a wonderful man who has been in the family right from the start. He's seen the births and raising of all three of our kids, and all three of our grandchildren. He is truly loved by all of us. And on this Father's Day, I want to send a special shout out to him. WE LOVE YOU JOHN-GRANDPA! Happy Father's Day!

I love my three kids and grandkids to the moon and back. Gabby, Max, and Noelle you mean the world to me. And to my grandchildren, Avery, Brylee, and Reighlynn, I can't wait to make you all laugh again.

" Surfing and Fathers/grandfathers/uncles Heals All Wounds."

This is a pointbreak somewhere in New England. Ed shot this in 1970. That's 47 years ago. Ed was not a father. He and Kathy had decided not to have any children. Though I suppose dealing with a few hundred young surfers in his lifetime was more than enough for Ed. Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.


Now for Some Local, National and International News
So I know it's Fathers day and all, but this little guy is my pride and joy. You've seen him here before. This is Patch and this was the first ever photo taken of Patch and I. This was on November 22nd, 2010. He's going to be 8 in September. That's 56 in dog years. Man that went by fast. He's still in great shape and very energetic. In fact, when I run him he's full speed the whole time.
I fell in love with that face the second I laid eyes on him.

Truth be told, I spend more time with him than I do with any other living member of my family. He's with me most days. My daughter Noelle once said to me recently "You Love Patch more than you love us." And I said, "No that's not true. I love Patch as MUCH as I love you." All you pet people know what I'm talking about.



Don't worry Patch if you didn't get me anything for Father's day.
I mean come on, you're a freaking dog! I totally understand.



Speaking of Patch I was out running him on the beach last week when i saw this kid our riding in knee high slop. It reminded me of myself some 50 years ago. I told the kid I was gonna run this photo. I hope he remembers to check.



Jerry and Cory in Italy. Cory and I will be going to Rome in September. That's right, I'm finally going to visit the "Fatherland" Oh come on, I'm kidding. Sort of . Motherland Fatherland what's the difference? I'm finally going to see where "my people" came from. I am100% Italian. And no, I've not done any of that Ancestry DNA bullshit. And I don't want to. As it stands right now, I am the ONLY purebred in the family. My wife and kids are all over the place. Whereas yours truly, is 100%. Let's leave it that way.



See? Something good did come out of that meeting in Singapore with Kim Jung Un last week. I'm not sure which is scarier. This photoshop or their real look?

KSM Photoshop of the Week
I wanted to share this pic of KSM and his new born son back in the day when he was first starting out in Al Qeada. Is it me? Or are those live hand grenades a bit too much for baby Khaliddy?
Yeah, that's what I thought too. But let's not forget who we're dealing with here.



So my friends, please 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 M26 hand Fragmentation Grenades at Home Depot this week.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY To all dads, uncles, and whatnots.
RIP Ryk Kluver Central Cal surfer loved by many (heart attack while surfing in Mexico)

FYI Lenny Nichols is looking for someone or someones to take over the ESA-NNE District. Please contact Lenny Nichols by calling his cell (603) 944-2418



THE GRANITE GIRLS and The River Women showing at the ASHWORTH By The Sea on Hampton Beach this July 12th.
Admission is FREE. Pass the word. We are going to make history this night!




Please Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 13 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) We don't call it the wall for nothing. Cannon D 30 pic.
RANDOM PICS June 17th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) The lefts at 14th street. Taken with the GoPro II
RANDOM PICS June 17th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Looking out the front window right into the McCarthy house.
RANDOM PICS June 17th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Up north near the Hill of Beans. GoPro II pic.
RANDOM PICS June 17th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Same hill only looking south. GoPro II pic.
RANDOM PICS June 17th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Leah Grondin video frame grab from The GRANITE GIRLS.
RANDOM PICS June 17th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) SEQUENCE 1 of Max Fatello Hurricane Maria September 2017.
RANDOM PICS June 17th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) SEQUENCE 2 of Max Fatello Hurricane Maria September 2017.
RANDOM PICS June 17th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) SEQUENCE 3 of Max Fatello Hurricane Maria September 2017.
RANDOM PICS June 17th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) SEQUENCE 4 of Max Fatello Hurricane Maria September 2017.
RANDOM PICS June 17th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) SEQUENCE 5 of Max Fatello Hurricane Maria September 2017.
RANDOM PICS June 17th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) SEQUENCE 9 of Max Fatello Hurricane Maria September 2017.
RANDOM PICS June 17th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) SEQUENCE 11 of Max Fatello Hurricane Maria September 2017.
RANDOM PICS June 17th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Max was the first to try it out. GoPro Pics June 17th, 2018.
Photo by Max Fatello
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) It's just a matter of pausing the clip to get the frame grab.
First GoPro Pics June 17th, 2018. Photo by Max Fatello
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) Maybe I should have been more specific. First GoPro Pics
June 17th, 2018. Photo by Max Fatello
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. Max First GoPro selfie. June 17th, 2018. Photo by Max Fatello
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Happy 45th Wedding Anniversary to these two Lovebird Hippies. All kidding aside, that's a remarkable achievement in this day and age. Still together after all this time. I told them both, they have 50 in their sights. Congrats to Mindy and Stan. Love them both. Photo courtesy of Mindy Bocko
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery