Monday, May 24, 2010

The Latest

Over here at HeadHighGlassy we like to keep things light—a quick shot of handcrafted boardporn, and perhaps a few musings on our shared experience as surfers in the 21st century. However, for the last seven or eight weeks, I’ve been sick. Comically at times, but mostly not. Mostly sick in the way that saw my wife and I using vocabulary normally heard in bad medical dramas. Sick in the way that that last week’s lab technician grimaced when she saw the constellation of blood-test punctures dotting my arms. Sick in the way that, over time, the radiologist running the cat-scanner and I learned each other’s work schedules, favorite books, children’s soccer achievements.
As I regain health, I’d love to pen a flip account of my last two months—ending with But Boards Must Go On!—were it not for the fact that I can recall, exactly, how terrifying it all was.
But it’s true, Boards Must Go On. The moon pushes and pulls, tides rise and fall. Pulses of energy gather into waves, hurl themselves at distant shores, reconstitute in different forms. For the briefest of interplanetary eye-blinks, some of us get to tap into that energy, and surfboards are a simple, ingenious way to do this. So while I’m humbled by many things lately—my wife and her infinite stores of patience and love, my mom’s homemade chicken pot pie, caregivers, viruses—I’m also thrilled to be harnessed by something larger than the self. To be a part of a community of weird, inspiring people who call or email or stop by to demand, in no uncertain terms, that their surfboard needs be met. Fortunately, they’re also patient, and this afternoon as I popped in the iBuds and stepped into the shaping bay for the first time in a month, I paused to feel this transference of energy. This live-wire scream of the planer, these grains of foam dust whirling through spider cracks of light, this unshakable throb of possibility. Health waxes, illness wanes. Boards are shaped. Handed over. Ridden. We are immersed, enslaved by joules and the law of conservation. Sometimes this doesn't work to our favor. Sometimes it does. And sometimes it just feels pretty fucking good.
Onto the boardporn!
Esteban's new double-wing quad stealth fish.
The stealth designation is given to any board that immediately goes into a board bag, is sneaked past any economically co-dependent members of the household, and is incorporated (with crossed fingers) into the existing quiver without mention or fanfare.
Although it's doubtful this one will escape notice, a man's gotta try.
As per usual, Leslie Anderson at Fatty Fiberglass makes the stuff pretty. All color, except the resin pinlines, done during the lamination. Badass.
I hope you are all well.

13 comments:

brent said...

We need to have a little "back from the TB ward" party for you. A HUGE cooler of Tecate, some vittles on the grill, and some surf flicks projected on the outside of the shred shed... as soon as this Seattle weather goes back where it came from!

HeadHighGlassy said...

Amen.

Unknown said...

I'm so sorry to hear you've been dealing with such heavy sh*t - a long hold-down as it were - but great news that you've surfaced and on the mend. Take good care of yourself and just keep on paddling!

e. said...

The road to renewal is paved with shaka-shaka vibes!

Btw, mmmm, fish…

Zayre Johnson said...

That is the most beautiful board I have ever seen with my eyes. That just looks like a magical wave catching tool... Ugh NICE board. I envy the person who owns that haha

Anonymous said...

Jamie, we will always have waves, and continue the stoke, but your health is more important. Without it, who would make such creative boards for us? Take care of "you" first, and all will follow.

Anonymous said...

agreed....to all
great news that you are feeling better...and right in time for summer vacation! sweet.
here's to cold beers, warm weather (eventually) and you getting some needed water time.
Paul

vanillagorilla said...

That sounds frightening. Glad to hear you're doing better. Take care of yourself.

Nice fish, too.

HeadHighGlassy said...

Thanks, all, for your concern and support. Makes me feel fuzzy (in the good way).

Kirk said...

For a sick man that's a nice looking surfboard you made.

Surfsister said...

Illness, bad. Board porn, good.

I'm glad you're beginning to feel like your old self!

dwphotog said...

Welcome back Jamie!

pushingtide said...

Fishin' Fun!