Jusina Burger.9/10/1947 - 6/7/2004

well, lifes emotional rollercoaster just took a dip today…

and from the heading of this post you may have guessed someone close to me passed away today…

and while it may not seem apropriate to be posting such a subject at this forum…

to me it seems to feel right to introduce all of you to the person who made me what i am today, and who always encouraged me to become whatever i wanted and never pushed me to conform to societies norms…

as a chick who surfed my mum wasnt the most conventional person herself…

but im proud of the heritage she gave me ,and how she taught me to respect the ocean and life itself…

she instilled in me from a very early age, a sense of adventure and the meaning of freedom…she always believed the best things in life are free …

she never really pursued posessions or wished to attain valueable things in search of security, her main value whenever we moved house or town ,was proximity to the ocean…

to say she had a heart of gold would be an understatement…she would give her last dollar if she knew someone else needed it more than her…a model of unselfishness and freely gave to all …

she shaped my character and allowed me to pursue my dreams no matter how insignificant they seemed to other people…

what mum would put up with a 12 year old glassing in the house ,or a 14 year old turning the yard and backroom into a dust covered make shift fibreglass shop…and somehow she let me get away with wagging school to finish boards and sneak off surfing…

reasoning that i was pursuing my dreams …

and now all she is ,just exists in my memory…

so just to give her something more ,i thought i would show a peice of who she was to anyone who may read this post …so part of her may exist in the memories of others…

today surfing lost another one of those people who have helped to make the fabric of our community as colourful as it is today…in her own way she made a small contribution to the essence of surfing…

for that i will always be grateful,i couldnt have wished for a better mum…

regards

BERT

Hey Bert. I feel for you, man. Losing your mom is a hard, hard thing. But look at it this way, if you can. She’s not lost to surfing, she’s just riding a better kind of wave. Thanks for posting the pics, she must have been one of a kind and you were very lucky to be together…she’ll always be with you, in your heart.

"that was the river

this is the sea."

Sorry to hear of your loss…

I feel for your loss Bert.

As she shaped your character, she will rise in every thing you do, so she will be forever with you.

Thanks for the photos Bert.

We don’t know each other.

We don’t even live on the same part of the world.

However, I feel sad for you.

I think about my mom and how rarely I can see her because she lives far from my home.

I also think about how she upsets me when we see eachother.

Some times, we don’t care enough.

I must be a fool.

Take care.

Bert,

Rough hand to be delt for sure, be thankful for all she gave you(you are…) and what a special gift she was. Peace be with you in this difficult time ,on this long winding road we call life…peace and waves…

Sean W.

Bert -

Sorry to hear of your loss.

How lucky you are though to have had such a great mom!

a tear hangs motionless in the corner of my eye while my mind races throughthe memories of all that have passed who influenced my meager life,their livess greater by comparison simply because by ending each accomplished act becomes bigger thanks seem shallow in these moments …the fact that we brush so closely to our own mortality is sobering…we all have been touched and blessed by the positive seeds of our forbearers that continue to grow within us as the beautiful flowers that they are…waiting to be watered and nourished by our tears …and it falls from my eye returned to where I borrowed the water.

…bless the memory of your mom ,she surly ws a fine person to have borne a good son…and the company she now keeps are all of my favorite people , present company included …ambrose… son of Ambrose

Bert,

I recently lost my father, so I can relate. I am sorry for your loss. I really like your beautiful tribute to your mum.

Bert,

I will dedicate my very next board to your mum and yourself. Lost my mother three years ago and my second daughter already 14 years ago. You don’t get used to it, you just learn to live with it, since others need you…

“Sail on, Silver Girl, sail on by: your time has come to shine, all your dreams are on their way. See how they shine!”

And if you need a friend, Bert, well, I think we are all sailing right behind…

My condolences Bert,

This physical presence of ours is soon gone;

What we share of it joins us and we become

part of a family that reaches far beyond

the boundaries of these bodies that carry us.

A person’s spirit is much more essential

than all our trappings. These tangible things

are our extensions and when we permit

those we love to work at their expressions

we liberate them. Encouraging them

is how we help their soul to grow. It’s clear

Jusina knew these things, much more: she

lives on because a spirit never dies;

it just transforms to something grand and new

like when the sea and shore embrace in surf.


My mum is a spiritual guide for me much like yours is for you. Her presence is constant.

Mahalo, Rich

And the Sea shall claim all of her lost loves.

And they shall be together for all times.

And they shall never want for love.

And they they shalll be together forever in her womb.

And we shall tast the the salt in her tears as she knows of our loss.

Bert - sorry to hear about your loss -

Bert,

Sorry to hear of your loss. But, it sounds like you shared a wonderful life with your mother. Cherish the good memories.

Tom

Hey Bert

mums are the greatest,let the memories live on in your kids

Mike

Bert,

First of all my deepest sympathy goes out to you. You have been blessed to have a mum like yours. It must have been great to have a mom that surfs. My mom never surfed but always supported me and was there thru thick and thin. I feel sorry for all those out there that are separated from their parents thru either distance or thru differences of opinion or thoughts. As I approach the half century mark, I’m probably closer to my mom as I have ever been and am so glad I can see her everyday. It would take me more than a lifetime to repay her for all the things she’s done for me.

Our parents continue on in us.

Mind-speak with her, she’ll hear as will you her answer.

Bert,

Sorry to hear about your loss.

Dude she will always be the cool mom, that can never change.

Mark

Bert

     I'm sorry for your loss,but treasure the memories of your mom.In this she will live with you always. 

 

                                                                                      Jeff

I can tell so much from that photograph of your Mom. She looks like our kind of Lady, mine for sure…thanks so much for being able to share your thoughts and deep love you have for her. My dreams will be influenced by all of this goodwill.