Chapter 2

This chapter was used for describing Cherri's husband, Tom. This showed a timeline of her life from when his first got the interest in surfing up until they got married. Tom started surfing when he was about 13 years old. Tom lived in New Jersey at the time, so there weren't many good waves as we see on tv. Back then, the boards were really heavy, bulky, and expensive. Tom's friend managed to get his hands on a surf board. Since he couldn't carry it himself he figured him and Tom would share it. So during the summer months, when the water was warm enough, they would surf until they couldn't anymore. They loved it so much and where out there rain or shine. Eventually, when Tom got older, his parents gave him a board of his own, it was lighter, but also flimsier. Tom didn't care though. That board was his, and his father later states that the second they gave him that board was the second that they (his parents) lost him. Tom and his friend soon started saving up for wetsuits so that they could surf all year round, instead of just the summer months. Wetsuits back then were also not at all how they are today. They were super thick, heavy, and stiff because they were originally made for scuba diving. Every time they wore them, they would have to grease their armpits with vaseline so that they wouldn't chafe as bad. Tom and his friend continued to surf and Tom often hung out around the surf shop. The owner soon offered Tom a job there and trained him on repairing boards. Soon enough, the sole thing Tom did at the store was repair boards because he was so good at it. Tom soon began begging for a trip to California so that he could actually ride good waves. On his 17th birthday, his wish came true and he flew out to California for about a week. When he flew back, Tom was on a surfing high, but one thing might change that. A drafting notice.