A Day at Flies

Was on the North Fork last week and we spent a day at the ocean over at Flies. It was a gorgeous day, but fairly flat. Water looked like the Caribbean. Brought back good memories of days of yore with Dootze and the gang.

Happy Birthday Don

Got that wave of the day for ya, Bro. It happened to have been yesterday, but you would have been proud.

Happy Birthday Brother!

Hey-Hey, Captain Dootze - Happy Birthday! I got this photo of us in my office, so you're never far from my thoughts.

I remember some wild b-days back in the day, before Dootze became a model citizen. In our mid-20s Don's favorite vice was flaming shots, which flew past a bushy 'stache, then ended with a deafening roar that brought the bar to a standstill. Crazy man. I also remember a 30th with brother Randy. That story will remain out of the public domain to protect the innocent. Suffice to say at some point we were all firmly asked to leave the bar and not come back. Hang loose, Don - you are truly missed by all.

Miss ya' Dootze...

Rest well, my friend, we're always thinking of you. It's been a long year without you. Hope you have a box seat next to Big Stein...

D-Rod

Hey D-Rod - the boys of summer are back! CC came within 4 outs of throwing a no-hitter today. Wanted to call you - hope you get my message up there watching with all the Yankee greats...

Sailing at MYC

Bindu and I went to a museum opening this week for a show of American painters at LACMA and I was surprised to see the first painting in pride of placement was Winslow Homer's Gulf Stream, on loan from the Met. The original looks fantastic (this image is too green). It reminded me again how much I miss the great Donaldo and that I had another story to tell about those Seeth boys. This photo brings back memories of those sailfish races at the MYC - every Tues, Thurs and Sunday. The four of us were always paired off: me and Paul vs. Randy and Don. Paul and Randy would skipper for the juniors and Dootze and I skippered the midgets. Anybody who knows sailfish racing knows the crew is the brains of the operation. (This is why Harringtons always crewed for Seeths - ask Doug.) So when I crewed for Paul and Randy crewed for Don, we'd always win. Then, when we switched for the midgets, Paul and I would always come in second. Odd. Now it occurs to me that I was the victim of some secret fraternal pact where Paul was throwing the races for his little brother. At least that makes sense to me.

Don's Surf Buddy

We've lost another great man, surfer, and brother. I apologize for not having much in the way of details yet, but Tucker Geery has passed away after a 2-year battle with rectal cancer. A dear friend of so many, he and Don and I were inseparable in our high-school surf days. With incredible effort, he made the trip from Montauk to Don's memorial in September, laying flat for the ride in his brother Scott's car because for almost 9 months already at that point he could not sit. He was the same old Tucker to me that day, even though I had not seen him for at least 25 years, and despite his illness. He had a grin that was utterly contagious, and a personality to go with it. He will be dearly missed by so many. I can certainly vouch for how much someone can be missed, even over the years and over the miles. There has to be surf where these wonderful guys go, and you can bet Don and Tuck are trading off on the bombs out the back.