Between the slow indoor snow, her lack of body weight and the up section of this battleship rail she did not have the speed to make it the full length
Fail after fail she was so determined to keep trying
But we knew it wasn’t going to work if we couldn’t fix the speed issue
We made a plan… I gave her a running push from the knuckle above and her homies were there to help if she lost any speed on the up section
The stoke was SO high!
@eastcoastladyboarders@aambermaier@sofiefrita
I made it outside this winter. The first time in a year.
I genuinely thought and was told it would take 9 months minimum to get back to doing anything I liked. I'm 7 months post op tomorrow.
Between everything I've lost in the last 8 months and the added stress of family, work, and the world... it feels like I've been swimming against a current, with no shoreline in sight.
I finally saw the shore. I cried during my first lap. So grateful for all the friends who helped me get here and to my amazing PT team that pushed me even on days when it felt hopeless. Still not 100% but I'll take anything I can get. Finally got my win. 🙏🏼🌠💗
My first reaction when anything terrible happens to me is to hide. So I'm writing this to let anyone who might be wondering about my radio silence.
Three nights ago I lost a piece of my soul. Buddha had been my dog since I was 16 years old and I'm 33 now. I had that dog longer in my life than I didn't. When I moved out at 22, he came with me. When I got my first "real job" he got a job too and became the shop dog. Through every boyfriend, girlfriend, new job, new home. Every loss, every heartbreak, every disappointment. Through every high and every low, he was my rock, my shadow. Even most recently when I couldn't walk for 2 months he was the constant by my side.
If you know me, chances are you knew him. He was so small and sweet. He was a needy little velcro man who didn't care where we were as long as he had a comfy to lap to lay in. He loved playing with kids, tolerated cats, and sometimes would obsess over dogs that were way too big for him. He made people who claimed they hated chihuahuas rethink that. He never barked when you came home, but always had something to say if you were leaving. I don't know how to be me without him.
I wish I could have done more to show him how special he was. How loved he was and how important he was to me.
He hated winter and the cold so much. And I'm so angry with myself that I never moved us somewhere warm. He had to live through one last cold winter and won't get to lay in the hammock with me this summer. Won't get to pee on the flowers, prance through tall grass, or nap in the sun. I know we had 16 years together but he was so close to 17. And I'll spend the rest of my life feeling guilty that I couldn't give him his one last summer.
There's hundreds and thousands of videos and photos I could share of him. 20 is not enough. Thank you everyone who has reached out so far and to those who reach out now. I'm sorry that I haven't responded but know I read it and am grateful.
Buddha Chavez
7/8/2009 - 3/26/2026
I'm back ✨online✨ but definitely not better than ever. The last 5 months has been some of the hardest and darkest months of my life. I had my first major surgery, I wasn't able to walk for over a month and a half, and since then the recovery has felt agonizingly slow. Not being able to run, or jump, or play, let alone touch any kind of board is it's own kind of torture. I think the worst part has been the lonliness of recovery. And the best part has been the gratitude.
I'm so grateful for the family and friends near and far that showed up for me. The ones who made the space for me to feel like shit. They didn't make comparisons of my injuries or give me platitudes. They were happy to see me in any capacity.
Now I'm finally in a place where I can travel again, go longer distances, and walk on snow without pain. Which is all really good on paper but it still didn't feel like enough. Until last weekend.
Building with purpose isn't just an event name, it's literal. Building a park with friends and watching riders throw down on what we built was a good reminder that even in this dark pit I'm in I can still keep helping with events. I can keep volunteering with the different orgs I love. I can keep showing up.
And I guess if I've learned anything from these past 5 months it's that showing up is more than enough.
Thank you to the super talented photographers that captured me feeling a little joy @mackhennz@annaburchphoto
And thanks everyone for reading my mushy ass thoughts. Things still suck but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ everything will be alright. Eventually.
Its MEL DAY! 🦇💗👑
This man has brought me more joy than I ever thought possible. He has stuck by my side through thick and thin since the moment we became friends 11 years ago.
You are smart, kind, confident, outspoken, meticulous, brave, and so so talented. You light up my life with your quiet confidence. You lean into exactly who you are and you've never been afraid to explore and change along the way. Be it with new books, hobbies, or big career moves.
This year was hard. And there was so much change but you've handled it with the grace and confidence that once again sets the example for who I strive to be.
I love you and I'm so glad I get to stand by your side for another year around the sun. Everyone enjoy some of my best Mel pics and wish this 💎gem💎 a feliz cumpleaños 🎂
