The universal call of summer

LAGUNA LIFE

I love it! It’s 6:38 in the morning and the blue skies are in

full-scream glow. I have lost count to how many days in a row I have

awaken to these beautiful days.

Peacefulness runs through my veins as I stare out into the yet

undisturbed ocean. It lies gently in a sleeping state, glassy as if

it were wrapped and covered in silk.

The morning air is crisp and tight. It has a small bite to it. The

west wind is blowing -- I heard it whistling in the night. The ocean

has dropped a few degrees. The fog is hovering, standing on the

horizon-threatening -- not today however. It will be no match for the

already shining sun. Go home, go home Mr. Fog, back into your cave.

Today let the sun blaze. My big ears aren’t sun burned enough. You

know the feeling. I can hear every child singing the anthem “This Is

the Summer of Our Lives.” That’s a good feeling to have as a kid.

That feeling of invincibility, spending the day at the beach, dancing

through the sand and gliding through the sea.

I know the song they sing, and I still sing it today knowing every

word. Just look into my eyes and you’ll see the same kid -- the same

person spending every free moment at the beach.

In many ways I believe the ocean is my best friend, my first love,

my teacher of life.

I’ve lost some good friends in my life, friends who chose

different paths, and I have surely made my own mistakes. But in the

end it was my love for the ocean and the freedom I enjoyed that came

from surfing that kept me heading in one direction -- back down to

the beach.

I see boys and girls everyday singing the same song and dreaming

the same dreams. Long live these beautiful sunny days, and for the

kids at the beach: never give up on your dreams.

Peace.

* JAMES PRIBRAM is a Laguna Beach resident, professional surfer

and co-founder of “They Will Surf Again,” a nonprofit foundation

assisting people with spinal cord injuries. He was also a member of

the Water Quality Advisory Committee. He can be reached at

[email protected]. His Web site is

alohaschoolofsurfing.com.