Surfing Soapbox: Dangers of drug use seen firsthand

This poem, “If I Could Race Back In Time,” is meant to be a talking point and is about all of us and the consequences of making poor choices in our lives.

These choices have sometimes led to drug use, ultimately leading to prison and death for some of my closest friends. We have lost some wonderful people in the last year — world champion surfers, founders of companies, and loving, everyday people.

Sadly, drug use is always talked about within circles of people but seems to carry the perception that it can never happen to you. But it does. I have seen it up close and personal, and it breaks my heart.

Perhaps this is my chance to reach back in time and really put this topic out there and hope that in some way, shape or form it makes a difference before we lose yet another wonderful person.

Drugs know no boundaries, no age and no color, and my best advice for the next generation? Just say no.

In any moment of the day

No matter where I am

Or what I am doing

My thoughts somehow

Always turn to you

I see so many things in you

The sun the beach and the waves

Will always remind me of you

We were more then best friends

We were like brothers

Always there for one another

Maybe the only one

Who truly had my back

And that ridiculous big grin of yours

How could I ever forget that?

At least a half dozen times a day

I pick up the phone to call you

Sadly I can’t dial

The heavens above

I wish I could race back in time

And tell you that

I have seen the future

And that if you don’t change your ways

You’re going to die

And then I remember

I already did

More times then I can count

And here we are, and you’re gone

For us to pick up all of the pieces

Sad.

Disappointed.

Angry.

You had so many second chances

Perhaps you were too stubborn

In your will to survive

I have to believe

That you would have

Never wanted to leave us like that.

JAMES PRIBRAM is a Laguna Beach native, professional surfer and John Kelly Environmental Award winner. He can be reached at Jamo@Aloha SchoolofSurfing.com.