Last year right around the end of April, I was standing at the wall shooting the surf, when I noticed an old friend of mine sitting on the wall, and just staring out at the ocean. Bill Morrissey. The surf wasn't that good, so I knew he wasn't pondering the age old "is it worth paddling out" dilemma. No this was something else. I went over and said hello and then asked him how things were going. He looked over at me and said "Do you really really want to know?" I looked up at him and said, "I've known you for many years Bill, so yeah, I'd really like to know."

"I just found out that I have prostrate cancer."

And just like that, Bill's life took a turn that he did not see coming. I suppose nobody does when they get hit with sobering news like that. If you've ever been in a situation like that you know what I'm talking about. I've had life threatening news in my recent past, and know how I dealt with with it. So I immediately went into friend and knowledge mode.

Treatments. Attitude. And most importantly surfing.

It's a lot to digest all at once, but I know Bill. I know of his character. He's a fighter. A veteran, a family man, and he's a surfer. A true bona fide surfer.
So he already had that going for him. I didn't come up with the expression "SURFING HEALS ALL WOUNDS" for nothing. I had already put it to good use. The first time when I was a young man dealing with the experiences of war, and the last time when I was dealing with a life threatening disease. So I knew what I was stalking about. And Bill knew it too.

So for the next year, Bill underwent a series of treatments for his cancer and he did it like the warrior he is. He kept a very low profile about it. There were only a few in the community outside of his immediate family who knew. One of the few was Erica Nardone. Whether she knew it or not, Erica played a pivotal role in his battle. For you see, Erica was fighting a battle of her own. And while it was not life threatening, it was clearly life altering. Erica lost sight in her left eye after a serious surfing accident. Her battle is still ongoing and she has made leaps and bounds to get her life back to some kind of normalcy that includes surfing. Erica is a surfer, much like Bill. A hardcore surfer.

So for the last year, I watched and kept tabs on the two of them.

One of the important things when dealing with a situation like Bill and Erica is you need to be able to laugh. And I'm talking about laughing at your progress, The daily ups and downs. And I'm here to tell you that they both were able to smile and laugh at their situations. And through it all, they surfed.

In fact, Bill started his radiation treatments the day we had the Wounded Warriors HIT THE BEACH. Here he was assisting these wounded vets after going through radiation treatments. I could only watch, smile, and nod.

I'm happy to report that on May 1st, 2018 I ran into Bill at the beach and he told me he got the ALL CLEAR sign. We hugged and then I watched him paddle out and catch a few waves. *He had already surfed three other sessions starting at sunrise. Where he said he surfed alone. Like I said,
SURFING HEALS ALL WOUNDS.

I asked Bill if he was OK with me blogging about this and he said "Absolutely. But please make sure you advise anyone over the age of 50 to get their prostrate checked out." So, if you're a man over 50? Get your prostrate checked out. Early detection is KEY. Get on it.



Here's Bill cancer FREE on May 1st 2018.

Speaking of adventures and long journeys, Liz Clark has a story for the ages.



Friday night at the ASHWORTH Liz Clark showed some slides and video as well as reading from her new book SWELL. Liz was a captain aboard a ship that went on a remarkable journey. She spent years on board her craft and experienced life changing ordeals in the process.



The place was full of local surfers and non surfers to hear and meet Liz.
Big shout out to CINNAMON RAINBOWS for putting this on.

OK put this on your calendars. Saturday May 19th, 2018 at the Marston School in Hampton, NH it's the 4th annual McCarthy STRONG Walk to help fight against pancreatic cancer. This is all in memory of Steve McCarthy who lost his battle against pancreatic cancer in 2015.




The ORIGINAL Nor'easters will be playing after the walk. We might even play outside if the weather allows it. It's always a GREAT time so come and join the McCarthy clan as we all walk and honor Steve and all of those affected by cancer, specifically pancreatic cancer (of which there is no cure).

The CARS were featured on HBO as they re-broadcast-ed the 2018 ROCK and ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES. It was great! They played three songs and each one of the surviving members spoke. I have known the CARS since they were called Capn Swing. I loved the band. Nobody sounded like the Cars. NOBODY. It was great to see them speak at such a prestigious event. They all mentioned Ben Orr (who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2000). We all miss Ben. But when Elliot mentioned his mother, it brought a tear to my eye. What a lovely tribute from a loving son.

I couldn't help but think of him and other members of the crew who have since passed away. Thom Moore and Joe. And I couldn't help but think of David's dad "Guy" who had the uncanny ability to be able to pick out the band's hit songs. We used to joke, "If Guy likes it, then we know it's good!" I'm proud of them all. Left to right: Elliott Easton, Greg Hawkes, Ric Ocasek, and David Robinson. The space between Greg and Ric is where Ben would have been standing. LONG LIVE THE CARS!



" Surfing and Rock and Roll Heals All Wounds."

This is another Ed O'Connell classic. Ed will love to get up hours before me to get those sunrise shots. I can hear him laughing when i would do my Homer Simpson DOH! after seeing his sunrise pics. 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
I am a FAIR WEATHER Celtics fan. There I said it. And I suppose to a certain degree, I feel the same about the BRUINS. But, I am more of a Bruins fan than a Celtics fan. Boston used to be a Hockey town back in the late 60's and early 70's. Back when bobby Orr wore number 4 and played defense unlike any other player before and after him.

And I was a Boston Celtics fan when they were racking up Championships year after year. From Bob Cousey to Larry Bird. I guess I just lost interest in both sports after a while. Truth is I became a Patriots fan and never looked back.

But now that the patriots have 5 super bowl rings and they could have had 6 super bowl rings if their head coach King Belichick had played Malcolm Butler in this last Super Bowl. But for some unknown reason "IN BILL WE TRUST" decided not to play him, I have become a Bruins and Celtics fan again. And, I won't tune back into the Patriots until BELICHICK comes CLEAN and explains to the millions of fans WHY he didn't play Butler.



So until that day, I shall watch and cheer on these two teams.

Though I have to say that after todfay, I may be only cheering for the CELTICS because the Black and Gold are facing elimination. Thats right. The BRUINS are facing an long uphill battle. Can they pull it off? Yeah sure, they could. But they are unlikely with bullshit like this. Brad Marchand licking the faces of his opponents is stooping to a new low in the NHL. In my honest opinion he should be fined and expelled from the game. This is beyond juvenile.

I don't know what some of you think about this. But I am disgusted. There's no place for this kind of bullshit.



If they lose today, remember this image. OK? Remember this.



Not that I needed an excuse to not like this guy (Kanye). But you have got to be shitting me Kanye? His comments about slavery? And his tweets about the president? I don't believe the shit I see on TV these days, but this has to rank with some of the weirdest BS we have seen in quite sometime, and let's face it, there has been a LOT of shit on television these days. Trump and Kanye?

Don't be surprised if you see Kanye on the Presidential ticket in 2020. TRUMP and KANYE. Laugh, but you and I both know, that this world has gone crazy, and none of us can put anything getting by these days as "this could happen" bullshit. If we all make it to 2020, remember this blog and when I wrote this.

John McCain is fighting for his life as we speak. Brain cancer.
I want to remind all of you Vietnam vets out there who voted for TRUMP what he said about John McCain. "I like people who were not captured OK?" And I want to remind you same vets that Trump got 5 draft deferments out of going into the service during the war in Vietnam. In other words boys, Trump was a chicken shit bullshit artist. Just as well, he would have gotten people killed if he was over there.



I hope John McCain pulls through this battle. I want to say that it was an honor and a privilege to know him, and work with him. If Trump has half a brain, he will avoid going to McCain's funeral.
But he doesn't. He only has a quarter of the brain required to be
a human being with any kind of respect and admiration for real bona fide war heroes.

KSM Photoshop of the Week
This week in the world of "YOU HAVE GOT TO BE SHITTING ME ?" has hit a new WTF??? Rudy Rudy Rudy. I mean, honestly people you can't make this shit up!!! This circus of clowns gets more bizarre every week. And you wonder why I put KSM in the middle of all this mayhem? How can I not?



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 "Stormy Daniels Audition Tapes" at Home Depot this week.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Jay Gould May 7th!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Leah Grondin May 8th!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Gabby Fatello May 9th!
GET WELL SOON Jon Gozzo!
GET WELL Cliff Pappas!
GET WELL JoEllen Bunton!
CONGRATS to Gabby Fatello on the birth of her
daughter Reighlynn Noelle!

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 NEW GRANITE GIRLS poster! Shooting for a May Day premiere and a Summer DVD release.



THIS FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE ASHWORTH. From 7PM to 9PM.




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) It was an impressive turn out. Friday May 4th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) The Captain herself Liz Clark addressing the crowd.
Friday May 4th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Liz can definitely surf. Friday May 4th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) Crop and Phil taking it all in. Friday May 4th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) Liz Clark's dad. he sounds like an amazing person.
Friday May 4th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Her life is a Bold and Daring adventure Liz Clark at the helm.
Friday May 4th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) And this? This is a frog. Friday May 4th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) My new ride. The RUBICON. Friday May 4th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Gramps and Grandchild number three. Sunday April 29th, 2018.
Photo by Cory *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Auntie Noelle and her three babies. There's no better auntie than Noelle. Sunday April 29th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) My six girls. They all have my heart. Sunday April 29th, 2018.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Terence Kirby looking very much at home in CR.
Photo courtesy of The Kirby family
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON on each clip to view videos