Surfing Soapbox: Dangers of drug use seen firsthand
This poem, “If I Could Race Back In Time,” is meant to be a talking point and is about all of us and the consequences of making poor choices in our lives.
These choices have sometimes led to drug use, ultimately leading to prison and death for some of my closest friends. We have lost some wonderful people in the last year — world champion surfers, founders of companies, and loving, everyday people.
Sadly, drug use is always talked about within circles of people but seems to carry the perception that it can never happen to you. But it does. I have seen it up close and personal, and it breaks my heart.
Perhaps this is my chance to reach back in time and really put this topic out there and hope that in some way, shape or form it makes a difference before we lose yet another wonderful person.
Drugs know no boundaries, no age and no color, and my best advice for the next generation? Just say no.
In any moment of the day
No matter where I am
Or what I am doing
My thoughts somehow
Always turn to you
I see so many things in you
The sun the beach and the waves
Will always remind me of you
We were more then best friends
We were like brothers
Always there for one another
Maybe the only one
Who truly had my back
And that ridiculous big grin of yours
How could I ever forget that?
At least a half dozen times a day
I pick up the phone to call you
Sadly I can’t dial
The heavens above
I wish I could race back in time
And tell you that
I have seen the future
And that if you don’t change your ways
You’re going to die
And then I remember
I already did
More times then I can count
And here we are, and you’re gone
For us to pick up all of the pieces
Sad.
Disappointed.
Angry.
You had so many second chances
Perhaps you were too stubborn
In your will to survive
I have to believe
That you would have
Never wanted to leave us like that.
JAMES PRIBRAM is a Laguna Beach native, professional surfer and John Kelly Environmental Award winner. He can be reached at Jamo@Aloha SchoolofSurfing.com.