JettyGirl: A one million
dollar check arrives in your mailbox with a
note that reads, "Half of this amount is
yours and the other half is to benefit the world
around you." How would you spend the money?
Shawn Alladio:
Government would take their big chunk first.
As far as the remainder, would have to invest
the other monies somehow so this project wouldn't
fall apart as a pipe dream, it's the endurance
of an idea to sustain in reality that matters.
Refurbish an old 'cheap' single story hotel
for homeless seniors into an assisted care living
community. So they would not be forgotten or
neglected because nobody cares about the elderly,
they are perceived to be in the way when no
longer contributing to anyone ...the silent
majority, where does the love go?
By the way, a million dollars isn't much money
to do anything substantial anymore. Shame.
JG: Describe the best surfboard
you've ever ridden and why it was special to
you.
Shawn: Probably
not the best board, but it was my first surfboard.
And my first life lesson. I was 7 years old,
living in Pacific Grove, California. I had a
crush on an older boy. He surfed. I had $5 from
my birthday, it was a lot of money to me. I
bought the board at a garage sale with my mom's
boyfriend who also surfed. I bought it because
of two reasons. One it had a sticker of a yellow
'Tweety' bird (cartoon character) on it and
I thought if I got this surfboard, this boy
would think I was neat. At PG Beach, I paddled
out to where he was out toward's Lover's Point,
not knowing what I was doing, and when I got
there, he said 'what are you doing out here'?
I paddled back to the beach crying, staring
at Tweety the whole way in ...ouch heartbreak.
That board and I went everywhere together ...like
a pet.
JG: If you could travel
back to any time in history and hang with one
person while they go about their daily activities,
who would it be and why?
Shawn: Myself as
a child. I'm not impressed, amused or interested
in what other people have done for their spirit,
because it's such a personal private journey.
I cannot picture myself being a voyeur into
someone's life, no other person can offer me
answers other than my own free will. Looking
back at my life I can appreciate the struggles,
wonders, joys, tragedies and poor choices I've
made with greater perspective knowing it was
the best I had in those moments. As a child
life seemed so big.
JG: For thirty days you're
stuck on a desert island with one book, one
song, one surf movie and one snack food. Which
ones would you choose?
Shawn: The Holy
Bible, AC/DC-Thunderstruck, Five
Summer Stories, a high quality content
snack mix of my choosing of fruits and nuts,
so I could pick out what I wanted and when with
diversity to choose, what a luxury! I would
probably want an extension added onto the 30
days as long as there was shelter and water
and a sharp double bladed titanium knife. LOL
JG: What is your best surf-related
memory of 2009?
Shawn: Waiting
for the 'big swell', no, not that one, a bigger
one ...nope ...not that one ...let's see ...hmmm
...ok looks good ...nope ...and getting to see
all of David Puu's empty barrel surf photographs
from the winter swells!
