She was ready. Valentine’s morning we pulled her out of bed before the sunrise and then would head to the Cove in Kihei. “The Cove” is a small beach park that has optimal conditions for learning how to surf. Long, gentle waves, protected by a cove (thus the name), with Kalama park in the background make for a popular stand up paddling spot and beginning surf spot. Bright and early, her dad and her paddled out on the beautiful pale blue waters, that were still reflecting the remaining colors from the early morning light. I watched from the shore, with a subtle smile on my face, as I watched her and her dad, and also listened to an older man playing his acoustic guitar and writing a song with a friend helping with the occasional chord and lyric. Beyond them there were two tents tucked away in a pocket of sand within the cove, still zipped up and quiet.

The first minutes were about patience. Anticipation built faster than the actual waves. But then the wave was there. Daddy began his paddle, swift and strong, and she joined in. Reaching her 7-year old arms to the outskirts of the board to try to help paddle too. Then she began to press up, and within seconds she was riding her first wave. As soon as she realized it she let out a “Yes!” with a fist pump. I heard that from shore, along with her excitement that was loud and precious and pefect. Her exhilaration traveled across the water and filled my heart.  She had a few more “Yes!” moments and confidently rode her first wave all the way in.

A little later they caught wave #2, and it was a good ride, but not a long one.

Then wave #3. Oh wave #3 you seemed good and smooth. And you might’ve been. But somewhere along the ride the wobbles came and the self doubt. (The apostle Peter could tell you what happens when you combine water and doubt.) But she fought for her ride, and seemed to win.  She fell/jumped off at the end, and it all seemed ok.

I decided to move the spot I was watching from, to get a new angle.  But then I looked out and noticed she was being held by her dad. Maybe she was scared. Yes, something scared her. Wait, she was covering her face. Oh no, maybe another bloody nose. Maybe she bumped it or it could be one that just started bleeding. After a few more hugs, daddy paddled her in. She was still covering her face, but it didn’t seem that bad because she was relatively calm.

I grabbed the towel and got ready to receive her. But then I saw. She hadn’t hit her nose. She hit her mouth. There was blood.  One front tooth gone. (It had been loose, right? Not permament, no, it wasn’t. OK, we are ok.) The other front tooth surrounded by a bloody gum and now loose. Her lower lip, had a small cut and was a little swollen.

Once on shore, with the towel and mama hugs, the crying commenced.  She could let her bravery go and her tears come.  My camera was put away, and my hands were holding my little one.  I was still capturing a new moment, unplanned for and regrettable.  But I was also really thankful that those two permanent teeth were so late coming in, and that that was the worst of it.  Meanwhile, dad put the board up on the car, and after a quick phone call to a friend, we were off to my friend’s parents’ house for a bag of ice. My friend’s dad was waiting on the driveway for us, bag of ice in hand.

By the time we got home we learned what had happened. It was such a freak accident and unclear even to my husband, who was right there and first thought the fin hit her on her way up. (So thankful that wasn’t it!) Mystery solved by my girl:  When she jumped off the board, she had the moment of not wanting to go in the water, and turned slightly, but turned just enough back towards the board, that she came down, mouth first, on the board. So thankful for foam tops.

She was also upset because her knocked out tooth sank into the ocean. After a few more questions and a lot of TLC, she would also remember the thrill of the first wave. So we will see if that will be enough to get her out there again. I’m hoping so. I’m also just now reminded that the tooth fairy didn’t show up that night, or the next few for that matter… and this one may need a little extra reward.

You can see “Wave #3” here.  Not the most “knock-your-tooth-out” kind of wave, right?