Finding new delights of summer

There is no better theme song for the rich tradition of summertime surfing here in Laguna than Laguna’s musical band of hipness, “Honk.” Listening to Brad and David’s theme song just makes you want to go outside and embrace summer. Being back from Chicago last week, and surfing in front of my parents’ home, was like an old school reunion.

Warm water. Sunny skies. Fun waves. Good friends.

Simply put, I love it.

I have so many good memories of that beach it’s unbelievable.

Surfing in the mornings and boogie surfing during black ball. Walking down to the back door of La Paz and ordering a combo for a $1.50 and sometimes, when we were really lucky, a super combo for $2.75.

A few years later Laguna Surf and Sport opened on the corner of Anita Street and that was pretty exciting stuff for us. They would have poster signings from time to time with all of greatest heroes — like Martin Potter and Shaun Tomson.

Salerno’s pizza was next door (now downtown), which had the best slices of pizza in town for a dollar. Tuesday was a huge day in Laguna, as Taco Tuesday at Tortilla Flats was the place to be for great 50-cent tacos. During the summer months there would be a posse of us down at Pearl Street Beach who would stroll up to Flats every Tuesday just for the tacos and then back down to enjoy the rest of the day.

Life is good in Laguna — especially as a kid growing up on the beaches here.

Last week after surfing all day I was starving, and I had heard from several people about a little deli next door to Sapphire in the new Pottery Place plaza that offered great Kobe burgers with garlic fries for $10.

It’s not quite the back door at La Paz, but in this day in age it’s pretty darn close and after a good day of surfing, it tasted great.

Peace.

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