Last night I was walking into my kitchen to get a glass of water when it dawned on me. I could not remember the last time I went surfing. I had to stop and think. I did not surf this week. I did not surf last week. And, I'm not sure if I surfed the week before. How is that possible?

Am I just being forgetful or has it really been that long?

I'm thinking it's the latter. And I know why and how this is. 10 years ago when I surfed everyday for a year in memory of my father, I took some time off from surfing. I just had to stay away for a while. I knew that going into last year's marathon for MOLLY. I knew it was a distinct possibility that I would get very selective again. And I guess I have. I have had opportunities to surf. I just have not been that motivated to jump back in at every sign of a swell.

I don't think any of you out there could blame me.

It's not like I am missing that much. And before any of you go reading too deeply into this think again. I love surfing. I have always loved surfing. I will never ever NOT surf. I'm just in this place where I can step back and take it all in. I spent many days alone out there this past year. Not getting wet every day is something almost unique to me now. I love to be able to walk away from a marginal session and not feel guilty about not surfing. Still, I must admit, I was surprised that I could not remember the last day I surfed. I'm not sure where it was either.

Imagine that? I can't remember when and where I last surfed...gee I wonder if this is early Alzheimer's? Damn...just my luck huh? I had joked with my kids this past year that in 10 years I would surf for Alzheimer's. I did it 10 years ago for Diabetes, and this year was for cancer, so I told them in 10 years I'd do it for Alzheimer's. Except if I was suffering from the disease I might forget that I went surfing already that day, or completely forget what I was doing and why.

I know this is not funny to those of you who have had to deal with that terrible disease. My own family have suffered through it. So I don't take it lightly. It is however something that I have done in the past and that is to find the humor in all of this thing called life. If you can't laugh at things in life than you will be miserable and suffer. You have to find that Patch Of Blue. That silver lining. That one ping of hope in your heart. For me? It's finding that smile. That laugh.

Putting a smile on someone's face is so rewarding. I shall never grow tired of that.

Speaking of last year. A close friend of mine Johnny Meehan who is a well known and respected surfer in these parts, used to love to ask me all throughout my yearlong surf campaign last year ..."So did you surf yesterday?" And each time I would laugh. How could I not? He was playing that humor card off my forgetfulness. Knowing that by asking if I surfed Yesterday...I would have blown my streak.

Very hurtful. But very funny. You have to know Johnny to appreciate his humor.

So what is happening to our friends the Seals? Not the NAVY SEALS the actual Grey Harbor Seals. Over 94 have washed up dead in the last couple of weeks. Most of you surfers have seen a seal or two in your surfing life. Lord knows I've seen many throughout the years. In fact, I've made friends with a few.

The thought of those puppy like faces washing up dead is heartbreaking.

Seals are the coolest animals out there. I love them. We all love them. I know some of the fishermen have had problems with them over time, but for the most part, they are so damn cool and cute. Wait did I just write "cute"? I did. And they are!

I'm just saddened to hear of the number of dead seals washing up on our beaches.

In a couple of weeks it will be the 20th anniversary of the Halloween Storm of 1991. Or better known as The Perfect Storm Swell. I'll be covering that very memorable anniversary, as that week holds some fond memories for a bunch of us local surfers. Good Lord does it ever. It's hard to believe that it's been 20 years.
So much has changed and happened since that swell.

Still, it will be fun to go back and re-visit that week long insane swell. With the capping off of the Big Day on Halloween. For me, there has not been a day as big ever since. Oh we have had some big days. But that day? That was by far the biggest I have seen the waves around these parts. Looking out over the wall that morning with Kevin Grondin...I knew right then and there, that this swell was different than anything else we had ever faced.

And looking back at that day...I was right. That was the day to measure all days.

It was in a sense, Our BIG WEDNESDAY. Only I believe it fell on a Monday. Be easy to find out. Just Google it...who am I talking to? You or myself? Hold on...I'll google it right now. I was wrong...according to Wikipedia it was a Thursday. Funny it felt like a Monday back then...not sure why. It just did. So be it...the biggest swell I have ever seen was on a Thursday.

By the way, if any of you have any pics from that swell please get them to me. I'd love to see what some of you might have for that big 20th Anniversary of that impressive storm. Please send them off to me.

So last night at Toby Parke's fundraiser for his wife Joanna Rob I was setting up my guitar and amp when one of the longtime local surfers casually mentioned to me that the surf really came up big time later in the day. I was shocked. "What? Are you kidding me?" He looked at me with a dead serious face. "No...it did. It went from crap all day to being a foot or two over head tonight..."

There's not many things in life that get to me. But this is one of them.

Missing waves when I live all of 2 minutes from the ocean. I hate that. Hate it. And with today's technology there's NO excuse. And...with a multitude of friends who monitor the ocean as if they were fricking scientists constantly watching it, one would think that one of them would call me. But alas, maybe this short window swell snuck by them as well. Is that possible? Hell yea. It's all possible.

And I did get confirmation form two other reliable sources. It did happen. Ryan Jackson confirmed it. I was standing outside with Mike Stanek listening to KING'S HIGHWAY jamming on the stage when Ryan told both of us. I looked at Stanek who was in the same boat as I was. He missed it too. We both shook our heads.

And I want you all to know, that I get no solace form having another surfer like Mike Stanek miss the swell along with me. His misery did not make me feel any better. But Stanek and I both agreed that "this one" got by us... I guess it's true, you can't get them all. And really, that just makes the next session even better. That wanting and passion will be all the more stronger the next time we paddle out.

So until the next swell hits...know in your hearts that "Surfing Heals ALL Wounds..."