I have to admit, this Thanksgiving in light of what is going on in the world (COVID) was really quite enjoyable. Forced by both New Hampshire and Massachusetts to stay home, that's just what we did. Typically we would have been going to Massachusetts to my sister's home. But that damn COVID had us all staying home this year. And I'll be dammed if it wasn't one of the best Thanksgiving's we've ever had. It really was.
For starters, we got to have Turkey leftovers for three straight days.
That wouldn't have happened if we were at my sister's house. But it did here. It was just the immediate family. My wife Cory, and our three adult children and their *spouses and our three grandchildren.
We had a truly wonderful Thanksgiving. In fact Cory and I both agree, a new tradition was born.
As bad as 2020 has been with COVID we have been actually enjoying ourselves in our secluded little world. We wear masks where they are required outside of our home. But nobody had masks on in our home on Thanksgiving. We have been seeing each other since the COVID hit. There was no need to mask up in my house with my family.
Last week I posted a photo of my late father carving the Turkey.
This week it's me in my new role. My sister Donna saw this pic on Social Media and wrote one word "Dad?" Ha ha. Yeah, I've turned into my late father Gus. Which is not a bad role model. Trust me. My dad was a great father, husband, and grandfather. From this day forward, until further notice, we will be spending Thanksgiving at our home with our immediate family.
Yes we will travel see family on other Holidays (Christmas Night *barring any more restrictions from the Governors of NH and MA), but we've already started our own Christmas Eve tradition here at our home years ago.
We will just add Thanksgiving to that Holiday list.
And next year when the Vaccines are available, life will be so much more the better for all of us. But for the time being, we are happy. Happy and Healthy.
Cory did an amazing job. She's my true soulmate.
Newlyweds Pete and Noelle recently married in September. Such a beautiful wedding that was too. I'm happy to say, that Nobody got COVID. Nobody. Pictured here with two of our three granddaughters, Brylee and Avery.
Max took a selfie at the beginning of our dinner right before grace.
The immediate family. Sheltering in place and enjoying Thanksgiving.
And thanks to our super talented German Shorthair Pointers "Patch" and his son "Zorro" we also had wild game to our traditional Turkey dinner.
Roast Pheasant and Grouse. It was so good. We have been eating wild game ever since the kids were born. It is a longstanding tradition in our family. And it always will be. It is a true Thanksgiving at our home.
Whatever Max and I harvest, we eat. WE SURF. WE HUNT.
This was a sad version of the traditional MACY'S THANKSGIVING Parade.
There was nobody on the streets watching. No crowds. It was like watching a 2020 COVID NFL game. In fact at one point I said out loud "Why don't they pump in the crowd noise from one of those NFL games? "
Right? Why not?
Poor Santa had to wave to imaginary kids lining the streets.
And those elves were all masked up and looked miserable. The more they try and make it seem normal, the more absurd it becomes. It was just weird .
Don't worry kids, next year things will be back to normal (fingers crossed).
Not for nothing, but the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane season ends tomorrow November 30th, 2020. And talk about irony, we had 30 storms this year! That my friends is the MOST ever. So yeah COVID sucked, but the surf? Well, the surf was pretty damn good. You have to look for the silver linings in the grey clouds of life. Or as I am fond of looking for, that "Patch Of Blue".
This is historical. Seriously, we've never had this many named storms in one hurricane season before. Here's to a repeat with 2021. And check this out.
The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane season just doesn't want to end.
"NEW TRADTIONS AND NEVER ENDING HURRICANES
HEALS ALL WOUNDS!"
|
This week's Ed's corner is local legend Kevin "Doc' Grondin. Ed took this pic of Doc at the Wall on November 16th, 2008. Truth be told this photo could have very easily passed for last week when I shot Kevin. He is the ultimate Ever Ready Battery. The man has stayed consistently good for decades.
Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.
Now for Some Local and National News
The world just got a bit more dangerous this weekend. Iran's top Nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was assassinated two days ago, and the Iranians are not too happy about it. In fact, they are kind of on the war path. The finger pointing is directed at the usual suspects. No surprise here, Israel and the USA are the to blame according to Iran's leaders. The radical right Iranian extremists are protesting around the clock.
"Death To America!" Sounds familiar huh?
I'm sure all the Military and Intelligence folks are being very vigilant with around the clock surveillance.
The vehicle that Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was riding in was riddled with bullets. No chance of survival for the Nuke Master. This of course does not help President -elect Joe Biden who is transitioning into the White House in a couple of months. If I had to guess, I'd say that there's a pretty good chance that Netanyahu and Trump did not discuss any of this with Biden. Which is too bad, because this is exactly something that any incoming president should have been made aware of. But I'm not the least bit surprised by any of this.
President Trump is
not exactly going lightly, just as many of us suspected he would. At some point he's gonna have to face the facts. It's over. Do what's right for the country President Trump. Not what you want. Do the right thing. Surprise everyone and go out like a man with dignity and respect for the office that you just held for 4 years. Do the right thing. Be true to the USA.
You were president for 4 years. Just like Biden will be.
Help Make America Great Again by doing the Right Thing.
Start packing your bags. Stop with all the vindictive last minute moves. Go on and pardon a few friends (they all do that), but seriously, LET IT GO. Go write that book.
Be nice to the new tenants. Be gracious. Be kind. Be grateful. But be gone.
Speaking of the right thing. This couple below were married for 66 years. Mr and Mrs Anthony Berardini. Parents of Tony Berardini. Tony is a local surfer/photographer/WBCN Alumni/CBS Sports and all around great guy. Tony and Shelly Berardini are a big part of our local surf community. Rhea Berardini passed away a day ago. she was 100 years old. That's an amazing feat. 100 years old.
She is with "The COACH" now in heaven. She is home again.
Can you imagine 1920 to 2020. Talk about living a good long life. She saw it all. WWII, Korea, Vietnam, The JFK assassination, the landing on the Moon, the birth of her sons, the marriages and grandchildren. She saw terrible aftermath of 9-11, but she also saw the good that has happened in our country and the world the last 100 years. The Patriots won 6 super bowls! And yes, she saw COVID. But I'm happy to report that it was not COVID that took her final breath. Rhea simply ran out of gas. She was 100 years old and she was ready to go home again. We should all be so lucky. Rest In Peace Rhea. You've earned your time in heaven.
When it rains, it pours. Poor Tony lost a cherished member of the WBCN family. Paul Sferruzza AKA "TANK" passed away yesterday. Tank pictured above with ChaChi Loprette was a great guy with a great sense of humor. Everyone who knew him loved him. Tank was 67. He was living up here in Dover, NH. Rest in Peace Big man.
Last week I posted a potential cover for my book. Yes I did own a Monkey at one point in my life. This is the only known photo of him. His name was JoJo. I came back from Vietnam in late 1970. I got out of the Marines in January of 1971. When I came home I tried to fit in with the "Hippies." So I bought a Woolly Monkey.
It was a colossal mistake. My book is a series of short true stories about my life. Lord knows I have a million of them. The monkey story is just one of dozens that are in my book. l thought of this title many years ago. I always thought it was an attention grabber. I may change the look of the book cover. This was just to see what you all thought. Send me an email with your thoughts. ralph@adlantic.com Thanks.
7 decades of Ralph Stories. From the absurd to the truly heartwarming. From the terrifying to the "you have got to be kidding me" type of stories. All true. All coming in 2021.
KSM Photoshop of the Week
I used to say that I wouldn't wish my Woolly Monkey Jo Jo on my worse enemy. In hindsight, I would have loved to see JoJo take big monkey bites out of this piece of shit. Damn The Monkey On You Khaliddy! May The Monkey Bite Your Ass In Hell!
And 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 *MONKEY CHOW
at Home Depot this week. *That's what I used to buy for JoJo.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING November 26th, 2020!
REST IN PEACE Rhea Berardini 1920-2020
REST IN PEACE Paul "TANK" Sferruzza 67 years old.
PLEASE Keep 97 yr old Frank Grondin in your thoughts and prayers, as well as Chuck (Kim's dad) .
PLEASE Keep longtime NH Surfer Greg Smith in your Prayers.
PLEASE Keep local Surfer/Musician Pete Kowalski in your thoughts and prayers this Holiday season.
Please
Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 16 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
|
