October is traditionally the best month for surfing here, but this month never got the memo. Long lulls in between good days make for an unhappy lot.
There have been rideable days, for sure, but the clean days we long for have been seriously lacking. That's why today seemed almost a mini-miracle. I had off, and the forecast came through as promised, shoulder high surf with southwest winds - woo hoo! It seemed to go southerly every now and then, marring the image I had conjured up in my brain, but it was sunny, and the sunlight danced on the wave faces like a thousand diamonds.
I checked the pier, but right away I knew I would not be surfing there. The parking lot was full of tents set up for some gathering, and there was a contest scheduled. One of the kids at school had informed me of this. Speaking of school...
SIDEBAR! DETOUR! I was asked to substitute yesterday, for a second grade teacher, the first time in my life I have done anything like this. I learned something, well, many things yesterday, but one thing that surprised me right off was that I did not go into panic mode. You see, I usually tutor kids one-on-one, and that is how I like it. Being in charge of an entire classroom of kids has never been my goal. It has always seemed too much for my flimsy spine. All the kids know me as an easy touch. I knew the minute I walked into the room and heard their excited whisperings, about me being their sub for the day, that I was dead. But, back to what I learned. I was not scared. I even smiled a little when the vice-principal asked me to do it, saying I loved a challenge. Famous last words.
I can't emphasize the lack of fear I had. Even walking down the hall to the classroom, I was waiting for the panic to wash over me.
So I walk in and get the kids, huddled on the floor in another second grade teacher's classroom. I walk them to their room, and there are some kids I know, and they are excited that I am their teacher for the day. We get things organized, I scramble for the teacher's lesson plan, and go at it. We do a morning work sheet, and there are a million questions. Raise your hand, guys, do not call out my name. I only come to kids who have their hands raised. Crowd control is number one. I am pretending to know how all this works. They seem to buy it, and we make it through this demented worksheet and on to centers, where they have things to accomplish with my constant guidance. Before I know it, we are on our way to art, and I will have a break. On the way, I apologize for mixing things up. I realize that we have left out the part where we all sit around and talk about the day of the month, the weather, etc. I tell them I am sorry, that we will do this when we get back. That was when sweet, articulate Brendan looks up at me and says, "Well, you ARE making this a bit AWKWARD!" I wanted to burst out laughing, but before I could, two kids blurted out, "But, we like it!" Oh, you kids!
When I pick them up after art, Brendan runs up and hugs me. I think, oh, you little devil, you feel bad about what you said earlier! I ask him if he can ever forgive me for mixing up his day, expecting that he is over it. Instead, he looks up at me with the most angelic face and says, "You know, you really should probably start with kindergarten." That's why I love kids. No games. Just the truth, bitter or sweet.
So, to the surf... I called Andy, and drove to Matanzas, down to the new wash-through inlet, but it wasn't happening. I drove back to the north side of the inlet and walked out to the overlook. Whoa... that looks like a nice peak. One guy was running down the boardwalk with his board. By the time I got my board, and made it down to the beach, Mark was standing by his truck, waiting for Andy to show up with his Placebo that we all want to ride. Andy came driving up then, and within minutes we were out in the water. The water has cooled a bit, but you can still skin it. I seemed to be out of the spot I had seen earlier, and the waves closed out on me for the most part. I decided to go in and check somewhere else. Just as I walked in, Andy was walking up, too, grinning from ear to ear. Come out over here, he said, and I almost didn't, but I sure am glad I did. We ended up getting so many fun ones, and for hours. It was so good, despite the current, and the waves had punch and power, for once. Bob joined us, and I saw D-Lite. It was so hilarious how he laughed when I recognized him. I have been watching you surf perfect waves in Nicaragua every single day, I said. I hate you! Someone has to live that life, and he is doing it!
Hours later, the sun was beating down on us, and we were starving. I walked up to Mark and Andy, who were already by their trucks, and were raving about a tube I had that I wasn't even sure I had really gotten into. That was the icing on the cake! We decided to go eat, and check it later. If the wind stays offshore, there may be another session...
Oops, probably just jinxed it.
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