not your average american idol

ICON

function: a noun
etymology: latin, from greek eikon, from eikenai to resemble

definition: an object of uncritical devotion: an idol

let me paint you a picture, a very vivid and wrinkly one at that. imagine a woman in her mid 70's, with eyes so blue that she makes the sky blush, with a smile as wide as the sea that she calls home, with dedication so deep you can see it pulsating from her every cell and a naked, wrinkled body that she is not remotely modest about hiding. well there, pretty nuts, huh? i kind of thought so too, until i read on.

i picked up the latest issue of 'Surfer's Journal' and thumbed through the countless pages of crystal blue waters strewn with young tan bodies gliding across foreign waves and there she was: a naked wrinkled woman that made be shiver and giggle like a child. what is she doing in here? and of course, curiosity sets in and one must dive right into the article. Carol Schuldt is her name and she calls San Francisco her home. she is 75 years old and i must say, she is kick ass. her zest for life, her minimalist mindset and the fact that she bodysurfs almost everyday in the 50 degree waters of northern california naked or minimally clad is enough said.

you can take a peek at the 'queen of ocean beach' in an excerpt in 'Surfer's Journal'

not your average icon by no means, but what does it take to be of that standing these days? money, money and more money? perhaps. fame and fortune? most likely. your face on the cover of 'People' magazine a few times a year? yup! but why? what is it that these folks have or do that makes them so important? not a darn thing, but luck. what do people like Carol Schuldt, Gypsy Boots and others have? they have heart and soul, love, passion, compassion, dedication to the pure and minimal recognition. that is what makes a true icon.

i would rather have my child look up to a 75 year old naked bohemian woman than brittney spears. why not? Carol leads her life with a heart of gold and a peaceful mind. i can dig that. why not look up to a woman that sleeps in her kitchen, rarely buys anything new and rides her rusty old bike for miles to bask in the cold waters of the pacific for wave after wave with no gear, but the body that god gave her? hell with money, that woman found 'IT' and i admire her for sharing the light with all that cross paths with her. she shares her home and her heart with others and looks for nothing in return.

so, next time you think about an icon or an idol, think a bit deeper. i had a boss that used to always say, 'do the right thing', and with that said, does your idol follow in those foot steps? the 'right thing' is so simple that most folk step right over it along with the debris and complexity that is strewn across our paths. slow down, look in front of you and you'll see that 'IT' is all right there. just ask Carol!

dedicated to bob pollard. an icon of his short time on this earth with a spirit larger than life. may he always be remembered by all that he touched. we miss you bob.