Got a new tattoo this weekend. After some powerful and meaningful visit’s by owls over the recent months and years this has been on my mind for awhile. Now that it’s done I’m super happy with how it turned out
Huge congratulations to my oldest, Sabrina, on graduating high school. It’s taken me a few days to write this as it’s been a whirlwind week with graduation, a nearby wildfire, a birthday, a class I’m taking, and Father’s Day. But I couldn’t let another day pass without honoring her and this incredible milestone. She’s always held herself to the highest standards, maintaining an impressive GPA without ever needing reminders or asking for help. At her age, I was a terrible student, so watching her dedication and self-discipline has been both humbling and inspiring. Needless to say, I’m incredibly proud. Not just of what she’s accomplished, but of who she is. She’s strong, thoughtful, and wise beyond her years. The kind of person the world needs more of.
Being a father is the honor of my lifetime. Grateful every day for these incredible little ladies. It’s wild how fast they’re growing up. Sometimes I still see them as these tiny little hands in mine. But they are no longer tiny. More than anything, I’m proud of who they are and who they’re becoming. I love them with every piece of me.
A story I never told.
She came to me once. A great horned owl, silent and still, watching me as I packed my truck for Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch. It was a dream I had held for years. That afternoon, I stopped everything just to be in her presence. A moment I had never experienced before. Later that day, my wife called to tell me Django had passed. My loyal companion, my best friend, the one who’d been with me through some of my darkest days. I have no doubt the owl came as a spirit guide to help him cross over. It felt like something sacred had shifted. I hit the road broken, but also knowing his soul was in good hands. That day marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life. I was grieving, but I showed up for the dream anyway.
This past spring, she returned. Or maybe it was one of her children. I found a nest with three baby owlets not far from home. I visited every day, sometimes multiple times. I watched them grow—wide-eyed, fierce, soft and wild all at once. Slowly, one by one, they left the nest. The morning after the first flew, I was sad. I had dreams of shots I wanted to take that I never would. But I was also proud. That little owl was flying free, on a path I could no longer follow.
Later that same morning, I came home to find what felt like a gift. A half-eaten rat left near my door, just like the ones I’d seen at the base of their tree. An offering maybe. Or just nature being nature. But I felt it. Days passed, and the second one flew. Then, on the night of my birthday, the last one left. I stood there in awe, unable to ignore the way this story had folded itself around me.
From Django to the owlets. From grief to growth. From the spirit world to the physical. I’d have to be numb not to see this as something more. In many Native cultures, owls are seen as messengers. Keepers of truth, guides through transformation, seers of the unseen. That feels right to me.
I hope you feel even a fraction of what I felt while creating these images.
Just over a month ago I took my Mom out to Joshua Tree to chase Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas. As she has a deep passion for astronomy and isn’t as mobile as she once was. Which also gave us a great time to reconnect, even though she lives right down the road can be hard for us to do. Aside from the quick lunch dates and holidays which are pretty regular. We hadn’t been on a trip like this in a very long time. I’m pretty bad at getting my photos up onto instagram but promised her weeks ago I would. Love ya Mom these are for you. It was an incredibly special trip for me and I know it was for you too. Can’t wait to go chase stars with you again!
Happy 18th Birthday Sabrina!!! Words cannot express how proud I am of the woman you’ve become. I will always and forever cherish your childhood and watching you grow into the amazing young woman you are today. You are a beautiful inside and out. Your kindness, creativity and joy are infectious. We Love You very much!!!! Can’t wait to see where you go from here!!!!
The impact Drew had on his tribe is indescribable. There are no words to express how important he made each one of us feel. Nor how significant of a loss his passing is to us all. He was bigger than life and the depth of his friendships shows what a genuine kind soul he was and how profoundly he affected those who were fortunate enough to know him.
I remember meeting Drew in the water out at trailer park sometime around the early 2000s when NY was home. It was just small chats in the beginning to eventually chasing waves up and down Long Island and New Jersey coasts. He’d tell me, Chris you have to come to Jersey with me. It’s unbelievable he would say. Then if I didn’t go, and he went; he would roast me for blowing it and proceed to send photographs of the best waves you ever seen. This pattern went on for a short time before I joined Drew in those adventures. We grew closer during that time. At a time when I really didn’t know anyone out east. I was sort of happy living on the fringes surfing and going home afterwards. But Drew being Drew. He drew me into the fold. Introduced me to some incredible people, his people. Thereby shining a light on aspects of surfing and community that I’d never truly appreciated before. Whether it was hanging at the beach after a surf or grabbing a John’s burger on the way through town. Or even a stop at candy kitchen. Drew never wanted the fun to end. He loved that. He loved the community. He loved. And he loved deeply.
I remember there being a bit of a rift in the surf community between the Longboarders and the short board crew. Drew knew they didn’t really like him very much. Which definitely didnt make him feel great but he understood. Much like earning your way up the pecking order of a lineup. He had to work to gain the respect of the short boarders. Which he did effortlessly by sharing his artwork freely with those very same short boarders that talked down to him. Likely capturing some of the best photographs of them surfing ever. This worked and he was stoked the respect was earned. Drew is one of the most beloved characters the east end will ever know. I love Drew. I miss Drew. Today we say goodbye to a great man.
Sadie and I went on our bi weekly hike to the top of Denk Mountain this evening and were greeted by this unreal glow at the top. So grateful to have this practically in my back yard. 4miles and 800ft of elevation gain. Best part is I only saw two other humans the whole time. In Southern California that’s a rare experience in itself.
