What are we supposed to do with all this tragedy as surfers?
Tragedies are like hideous snowflakes, each one unique, special, different but they all share similar gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, traits. You would think we would all be used to this by now. Desensitized. Numb. But when the news trickles in it always feels like the same motherfucking punch.
I was in Las Vegas last night and was supposed to be at the Mandalay Bay with my wife and four-year-old daughter at 9:00 PM for a show that would have dumped us out at 11:30. Just after the hail of gunfire began.
I chose to buy tickets for another and so was just slightly north and oblivious.
This town means something to me and I get a bigger and bigger thrill each time I come, not gambling or shopping or… watching French Canadians perform physical magic but… I don’t exactly know. Las Vegas is untethered and I love the untethered. I love the surreal.
Las Vegas.
I’ve fallen slowly in love with this town over the years.
The first time I ever came I hated it thoroughly. I thought it was a human cesspool. A midwestern genetic backwater. But now I love it beyond almost any other. I was married here in a strange swinger hotel on the windiest night in recorded history. Derek Rielly flew all the way from Australia, last minute, to stand on that stage. Dion Agius danced under the pale moonlight.
This town means something to me and I get a bigger and bigger thrill each time I come, not gambling or shopping or… watching French Canadians perform physical magic but… I don’t exactly know. Las Vegas is untethered and I love the untethered. I love the surreal.
Last night Sin City became all too human.
And what are we supposed to do with all this tragedy as surfers? As notoriously shallow, barely connected surfers?
I have no idea but when I woke up today I took a cab. The driver told me that his brother was there, at the scene, and ferried a woman to the hospital. She died enroute and he was detained until six in the morning. When he was discharged he went to give blood.
I took another cab and the driver was at a dance club right next door. He was dancing with friends until the bar manager turned on the lights and told them it was all over. Some nightmare was happening outside. He went home, filled his car with snacks and water and started giving people free rides.
We both chatted, joked, laughed then left on our separate ways.
I am now chatting, joking, laughing with people who were at the concert, who hid behind dumpsters as bullets rained down and I guess this is just it. Human beings are a disastrous bunch. We are fickle, selfish, mean. But we are wildly surreal.
And I love you you all.
Now there’s a spook connection too. Guy’s plane is now registered to Volant, an intelligence contractor in VA.
From the outside, it seems;
1/. That the second amendment doesn’t take into account for the development of technology that is semi/automatic weapons.
2/. That allowing access to these weapons limited only by financial ability is beyond comprehension.
Why does any citizen need to own multiple semi automatic weapons?
And why isn’t there some kind of system in place that picks that up if they do?
That would seem to be a good place to start.
It’s not going to stop gun deaths, but it is going to make multiple shootings more difficult to achieve.
but they wanna take eerrr guns https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Living, Chas. That’s what you did in the aftermath. Moving beyond when nastiness happens as (good) humans do.
…no kidding, really? and you come up with that all on your own, how smart…
dawww, glad you’re safe dude.
also, this is some good writin’ but you probably knew that.
You sure? I’m pretty sure it was like the men that stare at goats type shit man, I’ll have to look into it but I’m pretty sure remote viewing was MK
love>hate
Indeed
There are no words for this. The families are living a nightmare getting the news that a son or daughter mother or father aunt or uncle is no longer with us. Surfers and the Pros to do something like offer support to the families of the victims….
We love you too Chas!
Ditto Chas. Much love to you and yours….
Thanks for the insight, always nice to hear of humans helping humans in the aftermath of tragic events.
Conspiracy theory is a synonym for “the actual data contradicts the myths that you are required to buy into”.
Sometimes.
That was actually pretty good?
..,,and then Tom Petty dies.
Goddamnit the universe is relentlessly cruel.
“Gonna leave this world for awhile….”
So sad.
Chas – give “Tribe” by Sebastian Junger a read. Given your reflections, I think you’d like it.
Glad to hear that you and your family are safe! What was the impetus for choosing to buy tickets to a different show?
Luke Bryant?