The man behind the counter at O'Neil Surf Shop handed me the two bars of Sticky Bumps surf wax (one base coat, one cold) and a wax comb. Instinctively I brought it to my nose and inhaled.
In an instant I was standing in the cool sand on an overcast day at Tourmaline, reaching back to pull the long zipper of my wetsuit over my shoulder. I could feel the cold water seep into my wetsuit as I tentatively waded in with my surfboard at my side. When I got in to my waist, I flopped up onto the board and paddled out with the salty spray of the waves hitting my face and the smell of Sticky Bumps beneath my nose.
The guy behind the counter caught me taking a whiff and smiled. I smiled back, slightly embarrassed.
"Thank you." I said as I left the store.
I drove around Santa Cruz, smelling the bar of cold wax and it reminded me of home.
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