Kowabunga

Me……in my dreams

As a tweenager in land-locked Ohio, I lived my California, surfer-girl fantasy via Sally Field as Gidget!  Gidget's real name was Frances - - which is *my* middle name, so it had to be we were like the same person!  In an effort to experience California first hand (and to convince my parents it was the perfect vacation destination), I wrote the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce for information to plan my fictitious trip.  I was absolutely deluged with glossy flyers and coupons….but all for naught.

In 1967, our family relocated, very briefly, to Daytona Beach, FL.  Despite our close proximity to the Atlantic, we rarely made it to the beach and only once did I actually (attempt to) stand on a surf board.  Being a pale, freckled redhead, it was probably for the best.  But the fantasy persisted.  When Bruce Brown brought "The Endless Summer" to the Peabody Auditorium, *I was there*!  Everything about it appealed to me.  And continues to.  A poster from the movie graces the wall of my studio.

I don't know what the magic is about surfing, but it calls to me.  The opportunity to surf has been there in my life but it seems like there was always an excuse - not enough time, the water was too cold, the sun was too bright, whatever.  When I was turning 50, I found this great surf safari camp, Las Olas.  Their motto,  "we make girls out of women".  That was my plan for my celebration.  But, alas, it came and went.

But now that you've brought it up, Kate……maybe :)

Lisa-Marie, I can hear you the entire time I am writing this…..shush.