the old man and the dolphins
By Scott Sullivan , Fresno, CA

Surfing has completely changed my outlook on life, and for the better. The beach has served as my inspiration for many of the poems I have written and many of the pieces of art I have created. It even helped me to write a letter to my grandpa before he died, which was the last letter he was to receive. The ocean has been the first thing that has come to mind when thinking about anything in my life.
The ocean has even brought my friends and I closer together. Whenever we are going through a rough patch in our own lives the first thing we do is plan a surf trip. Surfing, even if the waves are small, patches holes and smoothes even the biggest hill. Surfing is more than just an individual sport, its an instant bond between surfers. Yes when we are in the water we can be a little selfish but true surfers don't need water. Surfing is a mentality.
My best experience was when my friends and I drove to meet our other friend in Cayucos. Immediately when I got out of the car I noticed sardine school off in the distance and birds dive bombing. I was a little hesitant because of the risk of sharks but I got in. We are in for maybe 10 minutes and we see fins coming towards us. A pod of dolphins was coming to play. The dolphins start bumping random surfers and even surfing with us.  I see a dolphin ride down a wave and go under water to then emerge and do a 360. I then see the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. an old surfer begins to paddle doing something that resembles a worm on his longboard. Just then two dolphins come up behind him and begin to surf with this guy. He looks like a person that has been surfing his whole life and does it for the love of it. He surfs the whole wave with two dolphins trailing him as if they were pushing the board. I couldn't believe my eyes. It was so beautiful and perfect. I will never forget it.
That day I didn't catch any waves because I was watching how the dolphins would come up to us, like 3 feet away and check us out. Then these pelicans would scare us by dive bombing right next to us, then popping out of the water and stare at us. That day can't be put into words, but the images will always be imprinted in my mind. I feel like most people that have ever been to the ocean have a memory like this. I wish there was someway to bring out these memories and show them to everyone else.

read more stories...
back to community homepage...

+ Add Comment( Show Form | Hide Form )