It wasn't till i lost surfing, that i realized how much i needed it. It was like my heart didn't beat unless i was in the water. Instead of blood, i bled salt water. My body didn't function right, unless it was on a board. I had surfed everyday since i was 7 years-old. Now that i coudn't surf, i was like a fish out of water.
I had been in an accident and broke my ankle, my wrist, and fractured my ribs. The doctors said I would probably never surf again. But nothing in the whole world could keep me away from the waves. I CRAVED them! Surfing is my life!
I had prayed every night for a miracle, only to be dissapointed when things got worse. My body ached. I was convinced it was because i hadn't surfed in weeks! My mom had grown tired of hearing the word "surf" in every sentence I said. I was starting to go into a state of depression. Thats when the miracle started bubbleing up inside of me.
One night i had a dream that i was surfing in the most beautiful water. The night sky was amazing and i was doing so great. It felt so real. I began to have those dreams everynight. It felt so real, that I couldn't wait to go to sleep at night. I felt more relaxed than i had in..... a month.
The dreams were so vivid. It was like i could acctually feel the water on my skin. I never fell off the board and never missed a wave. I felt like a champ! I was convinced it was a sign. I tried to talk my mom into letting me surf again. That was a big mistake. She gave me this whole lecture about how i was being pushy and impatient. Impatient? I hadn't surfed in almost 2 months. I felt better than i did before the accident and she was calling me IMPATIENT?
After that was over, i went upstairs, to my room to take a nap. I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. When my dream began, it was daytime instead of night time like the others. As i was just about to open the door to go to the beach, in my dream, i was awakened my mymother's voice.
"Rikki? Where are you going, honey?" She asked hesitantly.
"What are you talking about?" I asked rubbing my eyes, half awake.
"I'm talking about you heading out the door to go somewhere without my permission." She said angrily.
Thats when i realized, I was in the kitchen with my hand clutching the door knob.
"Thats weird. I was just having a dream that i was at the door about to go surfing. I guess i was just sleep walking." I said this as if it was normal. But something was strange about me doing whats in my dream. I was so confuzed and a little freaked out.
The same thing happened quite a few times that week. My mom got concerned. So the next time i went to sleep, she stayed up. she waited for an hour, and sure enough, i got out of my bed, went down stairs and outside.She followed me as i led her unknowingly to the beach.
She was astounded when she saw what i was doing. She was impressed yet angry.
"Rikki, What are you......." She paused when she saw my blank stare.
"Rikki, listen to me. It's mom. Rikki!" She said in a worried tone. My eyes suddenly flashed open.
"What are we doing here, mom?" I asked, confuzed. My mom exlained to me that the dreams I'd been having were really reality. I thought it was great that i could surf again, But we still had to fix something. I couldn't keep surfing in my sleep. It could've been very danderous. Lots of things could've happened. I could've gotten eaten by a shark for all I know.
My mother and i went to a Sleep Disorder Speacialist to help with my sleep surfing issue. He did lots of test but all i remember is, him hypnotising me. After a few sessions, my sleep surfing moments occured less often. Then, after almost a month they dissapeared completley.
The doctors were amazed when they heard the story of the "sleep surfing star"! I was on the news, in the paper, and on tv. All the young surfers looked up to me. My life changed after that. I never took life for granted. I lived mine to the fullest.
