It was a family gathering in the old Valley Ford schoolhouse last Saturday evening. Mike's great friends, former students and musical whiz kids were all there. The Thugz got to play sets of Grateful Dead/Surf tunes, and we all had a rockin' good time. Yes, Ian did "Wipe Out." The whole idea of the party was to honor one man's inspirational dedication to taking on a mission and totally following through on his commitments. Dale Webster is the man - sometimes known by his nickname "Daily" or "Daley" - and he decided, 40 years ago, to surf every single day, no matter what - despite weather challenges, personal health issues, social criticism, conflict with cultural "norms" - no matter what. The rule he established was "surfing" meant catching at least 3 waves in a day. He passed the 40 year daily surfing challenge last Saturday. I think the number stood at 14641 consecutive days, and it has increased since then. Pretty amazing. My mind kept thinking about all the commitments I've let go of over the years. Dale is truly exceptional. He shared his tenacity and courage with Margo, his daughter, and her life reflects the great gifts her dad gave her. For one thing, she had a perfect attendance record at school! Of course, she was the one who organized the party, got the T-shirts made, did the display board full of retro photos, and organized a video presentation. The Thugz felt honored to be a part of the celebration that included fantastic jam sessions with John Paul and Daniel - Mike's former students and Dale's family. It was a testament to living for something you love. Wow - the lesson was made so clear in Valley Ford. With gratitude and love, Sylvia