Vinnique learned to surf today...

I had told him I was going to give him a surf lesson this summer, and summer was drawing to a close. So, I called his mom, and she was all for it. I met them at the beach this morning, and it was good to see that kid after so long. Even though he has been difficult these past two years, he has his reasons. All of them are valid. One of the biggest being the loss of his sister, who had gone blind at sixteen, and was murdered at eighteen. She was everything to him.

So, how cool was it, to see that kid so stoked? He stood up on the first wave he took on the fun board. In fact, I think he stood up on every wave he paddled for on it. He wanted to try the 5'0", and I told him he would probably never be able to get up on so short a board (thinly disguised challenge), but he did, and on the second try.

I have never seen his face so filled with joy. He is hooked. He was so agile, just like I knew he would be, after seeing him do those backflips standing on the ground. His mom was blown away, had seen every ride from her spot sitting on the hot and glaring beach. I told them about how I had always wanted my parents to see me surf, but there never had been the opportunity, really, except the time my dad had finally made it down to Cocoa Beach for a surf contest I was in. I was so proud that day, felt sure I had won, and he seemed to believe it, too. They announced the winners, and I had taken third. Oh, well, at least my dad had been there. When I got back home to the Gulf, 150 miles away, they called to say I had actually taken first place. The judges had tallied the scores wrong. That was my big moment with my dad watching. My mom had driven over for a contest after that, and at the last moment they changed the location. Not knowing anyone on the East Coast, I was out of the loop, and never found out where the contest ended up being held. So it goes.

But today, Vinnie's mom was there and saw everything. This wasn't lost on him, and he was listening with rapt attention when I told him he has what it takes, that he was a natural.

That face, I will never forget it. He has something now. And, no one can take that away from him.