These two pictures from a wave in Rhode Island. So why did I put them up? One, I think they're super pretty. Two, because the person pictured is someone I admire greatly. Which will be the topic for this last blog.

That guy surfing is Mad Dog, he's 50. He's 50 and he still surfs, good. So what you may ask? I don't know any people his age that surf as well as he does, that's so what. Most people quit because their bodies get tired or sore or etc. But, Dog works harder than everyone. He swims a quarter mile and runs a mile just about everyday during the summer. So what does this have to do with anything? To me it has to do with looking in places for lessons you wouldn't expect. Dog has taught me a great deal about life, as have a number of people I've surfed with over the years, but the lesson we can all learn from him is that if you work hard at something you can accomplish it. He's twice the age of most people who surf, yet he still pushes them to excel; he's one of the few people that essentially founded surfing in Rhode Island (a place where there are no waves--according to most people--the pictures do prove otherwise though); he's uses his knowledge of the ocean to enable him to surf better than most; and, he passes on his knowledge and serves as a leader in my "discourse community."

So I ask you to find a person that has taught you a lesson, a person you wouldn't perhaps normally expect, and discuss in your last blog, why that person is someone we can all learn from. Remember, learning is a life long process, and much of what we learn comes from outside of the classroom. It's been a pleasure to have had the opportunity to teach you all. I've learned more from you than you may imagine.

Best,
tra