A few things about me. First, I normally don’t pen spur-of-the-moment posts. Usually, I jot down ideas. Draft storylines. Edit. Edit more. Then I publish. This one is as impromptu as it gets. I’m writing and posting in real-time. Why? Well, I just got very excited about a certain beer. I’ve already shared that Last Wave is one of my favorite breweries, and I’ve recommended their 3/2 Black Lager. But I’ve also recently realized that I love their Coconut Porter… called Right Coast. I never considered myself a porter guy nor a coconut guy. Obviously that all changed.

Second, if you haven’t noticed, I freaking love Hawaii. We’re approaching the anniversary of our trip there, and so all my pictures are popping up as memories. I love the culture, the people, the surf, the wildlife and the beer. The North Shore holds a special spot in my heart – as the first place I caught a wave on a longboard. The wildlife is unrivaled. Sea turtles swim next to you while you’re sitting on your board in the lineup. Chickens and roosters roam the streets. Yes, chickens and roosters. They’re everywhere and by my back-of-napkin math, there are approximately 2-billion chickens and roosters on Oahu. Many of those roosters waddle past Maui Brewing Company one of the best we tried in Kailua. Of course, the brewery has many varieties to choose from – IPAs, ales and Pilsners. My favorite though – the Coconut Porter. Sounds crazy, drinking a porter in a warm climate, but the brew sat light, and the coconut flavor gave it that tropical flare. And my friend who lived there and who we stayed with convinced me I should try it. Mind blown.

Third, I love music. Love listening to it and playing guitar. My musical tastes run the gamut. Nothing beats Delta Blues. Big fan of anything where the musicians harness an underlying soul, where you feel their emotion. JJ Grey & Mofro evokes that deep passion and so his albums run on repeat on Spotify.

Fourth and finally, I love when disconnected events come together as if they’re on some invisible path riding along the universe’s cosmic web.  Not everyone may notice these interconnected happenings, but I sure do. And it always puts a smile on my face.

So what were the events that got me smiling?

I’ve shared this picture on a previous post. I’m at Beach Haus with my family for my birthday. My wife and girls gave me that t-shirt as one of my gifts. Look closely. Yes, it’s a rooster. Not only is it a rooster, but the shirt is from North Shore Surf Shop – a legendary store on my favorite shore.

Fast forward a couple weeks. It’s early in the morning and as my girls get ready for school and eat breakfast at our kitchen island, I play Spotify for them. I’m again wearing my new favorite rooster shirt. A notification pops up for a new JJ Grey album.

I saw the cover-art and immediately laughed, got excited, and then a tad sad. I longed for more Hawaii. If only there were something else that would give me that vibe again.

That weekend I dropped into Last Wave. I peered into the refrigerator and on the bottom shelf, tucked away as if waiting for me, sat Right Coast Coconut Porter. Their last 4-pack. I grabbed it and smiled. Since then, I’ve searched multiple liquor stores in hopes of finding another stash of the delicious brew, but to no avail. Until yesterday afternoon. I hopped into a local store to grab beers for my daughter’s family birthday party. As I perused the aisles, I peaked at the Last Wave selection. There sat two 4-packs of Right Coast, as if lit up for me by the holy light of Saint Arnold of Metz. I jumped up and yelped in delight.

I don’t go looking for these series of fantastical coincidences. But I do notice them. And with this one, I was able to crack a smile and a porter.