John Adams...
I encourage any and all to elaborate and fill in gaps.
Before I met John at UCSD, here are a few things I know.
I'll skip family for the moment, and fill that in as I go. All will say is that John is one of many close to me that is the offspring of a Physician.
There's probably a good expanation, and maybe there's a 'skip generation' clause in there...
I don't think I could give one without a healthy dose of pontification.
John is a graduate of the Punahou School on Oahu. Punahou has always been known as a top-flight school with faculty and students that are among the elite watermen on the planet.
More recently, it's known for Barack Obama's attendance.
Did John know Barack?
Yes, yes he did. It's was hairy.
High school in the 70's meant hair. John has hair. Big hair. And it was REALLY big back in the day.
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Mr. Adonis himself!
Besides the surf, John was a High School wrestler. Barack Obama was on the basketball team. Their lockers were two apart, and Barack's favorite interaction with John was a good ribbing about his blonde 'fro.
John never told me how he responded back to Barack. I'm guessing a Zeh-style chest thumping. Even if it would be years before Zeh.
There's a couple of friends of John's from that time that's always been there, and their names come up time and again.
I've met Randy in Oahu, and as he's travelled out to Laguna. He's one fit mofo, and enjoys his time doing insane free-dives, hunting boar and other game in the recesses of the islands, and taking on some good-sized surf. He used to work for Menehune water before leaving for the rural life on Molokaii.
Kemo is another that's come up time and again. We haven't met, so I hope someone jumps in.
John has always talked about that lanai on Molokaii with his name on it. The plan is always the same. I am to join him over there, drink tall cocktails, talk story, and chase the groms away. Randy and Kemo are closeby.
There's a connection with Kalani Robb through his friends, which has led to the occassional visit to Pupukea...
Hawaii has always figured prominitely with John.
Then again, so has the German language. I'd say a big WTF, but I ended up with Latin after all of the other language classes were full.
I thought he might have considered a demographics course, but found out it helps him with another natural passion: the ladies.
My leftovers are a vague understanding of the etymology of 52% of the English language... John has always been the bright one!
John has a few expressions that are patently his... a big Yaa-BOY I think kinda led to his Johnny-Boy nickname.
But, with the ladies, when the topic came up, and it did often, his trademark is feigning firing up the biggest harley hog to say time to go a-ridin'
Handlebar height is always Easy Rider style.
Never has there been a wimpy engine running. We're talking a drummer here.
Folks here know of John's musical skills as a drummer in Simon's flix.
Here's John in recent times, rehearsing with the crew:
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Apparently, he can sing with the band too!
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Here's belting one out with Jen...
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But, to start on topic, everyone knows he's a kneelo.
He wasn't always, but he is always open to new ideas and craft.
As we became friends, he started getting my older boards as the quiver allowed. Most of those were Balestars.
He eventually started ordering his own from Tom. Right now he's sitting on more Balestars than me. I have one 5'10" left that was a dream board on tropics trips. He has mostly 5'7" boards that worked just fine for our then-lighter frames.
Eventually, Don got me onto Parkes boards, and John once again began getting my old boards, and once again had David shape him one... two? I lost count.
Anyhow, those are 5'8", as John has continued to stay in great shape. He was saying he was in 'the shape of his life' when his appendix burst in July, escalating to the current situation shortly thereafter.
John recently, in great shape! (BTW, he's a great cook and LOVES his salsas!)
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Here's Johnny back where he loves:
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There's one thing about John and me going surfing.
EVERY session, without fail, and I see it coming EVERY time... he drops me once.
Hard.
EVERY TIME!
I smile and try to keep up with him. I ask him every time why he does it, and he smiles at me.
The more recent days before settling down with my now-sizeable family, we would head straight over to the beach volleyball courts and play a few rounds... sip a drink or not... maybe head out for the glass-off. They were classic times filled with surf.
Many of those sessions were Uppers. He would also travel South and hook up for surfs with Mark Buck at TableTops, and Mean-Old-Twan in Del Mar. Hope those guys can sound in, as 'the Cave' was a common ground for all of us, and then some...
This first little segment ends before I go back to us meeting.
For those of you that would like to share, I applaud and encourage you.
This is just my perspective, and shrouded by many, many events that we've both experienced over the years. Besides adding more, I will go back through the segments and elaborate as the thoughts arise. (Or, someone reminds me that I shouldn't revise history...)
There is a distribution list for those that would like to know his progress.
I've now offered the keeper of the distribution list this thread to add their perspectives. I may be posting for folks if they wish to avoid registration...
As of this posting, he is still at USC under a clinical trial, and has undergone chemo.
There were ups and downs, but the last report is that he is to moved out of ICU to a normal room.
I and we pray that the cancer shrinks from the 1.5cm to the .5cm threshold to consider an operative means to remove the cancer.
Beyond that, there are complications about the location and inter-connection with vital arteries/veins.
Food is the big topic. We hope and pray he gathers his strength for the next round.