Best Week Ever.

Just when I thought we had hit the highlight of the summer—after surprisingly turning pro the week before—Sandler’s twelfth birthday arrived. Much to my relief, we dodged the uncomfortable Chucky Doll themed festivities and went all-in with a Curb Cowboy skateboarding party complete with almost seventy-five attendees enjoying Sandlers best birthday to date.

As his friends, ranging from age ten to sixty, celebrated the joyous occasion by skating the park, and indulging in tacos and root beer; I was secretly getting confirmation that a birthday dream—beyond any twelve year old’s imagination—was about to come true for him. He had been invited to visit Tony Hawk, inc. along with any of his buddies he wanted to bring. They would get the opportunity to skate and see where some of the magic comes together for one of the most iconic skateboarders to ever live.

I took a few breaths and tried to absorb what was going on / what had transpired over the last few months. During my moment of reflection, what stuck out the most was that I had tried to throw Sandler a birthday party last year, and was so grateful to blame the fact that we had no one attending due to it being a spooky Child’s Play soirée. However, the truth is he had not found his peer group by then. He certainly had not found the connecting force of skateboarding yet. Therefore, he did not have anyone to invite to that party. This year, however, it was as if the universe gifted him the magic recipe of a whole beloved community—with the main ingredients being a skateboard and new friends—all mixed in a ginormous cement bowl (literally).

After a few days of recovering from the best party ever, it came time to head down south to visit Tony Hawk, inc. The anticipation and excitement was indescribable. The fact that we were driving down to visit Tony Hawk’s skatepark seemed nothing less than surreal. We knew Tony would not be there, due to being out of the country for an event, but the fact that we were going to walk into a place he calls his own was unfathomable. Moments after collecting our gear and skateboards, we entered and were immediately introduced to the land of vert. An entire warehouse with ramps for miles, and jaw dropping scenery you would only expect to find there.

Thank goodness for our videographer, Benny. If it was not for him, I do not know that we would have any pictures or documentation that we were really there. I know I was far too busy picking my chin up off of the floor in awe and watching Sandler experience something so incredible. I forgot to even use my phone. We were all enjoying the events so much we were lost in the thrill. Those who work there could not have been any more welcoming. They made sure Sandler left with another birthday gift (not only a life long memory, but also a box of Birdhouse Box Boarders which he had to open before he had gotten five inches out the building) which he has not stopped playing with since.

Basking in the events of the week, I made sure we spent some time writing down the wonderful opportunities we had experienced. There were so many I did not want anything to be forgotten. I wanted Sandler to have a journal of all of these epic moments. That is when I received a text asking if Sandler would like to skateboard in a music video being filmed that evening. It was that very moment when I took my pen to the paper and wrote, “Events of the Week: Became pro, turned twelve, went to Tony Hawk inc., and got to skateboard in a music video.”

I am coming back as Sandler in my next life!

- Nikki