This past Saturday was the Celebration of Life and Paddle Out for Wes Ellsworth. We were all praying for good weather but the forecast was showing the worst of it for Saturday. It didn't matter though... we all came prepared. Prior to Wes's ALS diagnosis he was a meteorologist for the airlines and we just figured it was Wes giving us crappy weather so no one would be missing out on good surf. Lol. Wes is thoughtful like that and made up for it by giving us some really fun surf the next day. 

So after stories were told, songs were sung and Flor De Cana shots ( his favorite!) were taken in Wes's honor...it was time for the paddle out. Everyone suited up, grabbed their boards and was heading to the beach where the weather suddenly cleared out....the sun started peeking out, the winds calmed down, the rain held back and out of no where, a perfect set of waves in the sky appeared. We all knew what it was...it was Wes, letting us know he was there. Everyone erupted with hoots, hollers, tears, fists in the air and screaming 'Wes'! That moment in life would make anyone a believer. Minutes later Wes's waves were gone and the paddle out took place. Those waves in the sky may have disappeared but that moment will live with every one of us forever.

I had a lot of guilt and heart ache about not visiting Wes over the past few years but when I saw those wave in the sky, it was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I really don't know how to explain it but I knew in my heart what he wanted me to know. I didn't think it or say "hmm, I wonder if that is what he meant' or anything like that. And, I am sure those waves meant something different to each one of us but to me it was Wes telling me it was okay...it was a good friend saying he was there with us and always will be. We love you Wes, we miss you and one day you can show us how the hell you did that!! Aloha until then.