JamesGravey Media

Here today, gone tomorrow

A story about a photo that means a lot to me.

Many of you have seen me share various glimpses and a post or two about my recently-departed friend , who unfortunately left us last September quite unexpectedly. Nick was a car guy, he was actually the first car guy that I ever befriended. He showed me Top Gear, he inspired me with his stories of wrenching and driving.

As once famously said - “you can’t be a true petrolhead until you’ve owned an Alfa Romeo.” Nick owned an Alfa when we first met, he was that kind of car guy. He also lived in the Bay Area, so when I found out I was coming out here, I couldn’t stop thinking about how amazing it would have been to have him here with me.

The day before the Pebble Beach Concours was my birthday. I woke up restless and weary before the sun rose. Nick was particularly heavy on my mind that day, and as I tried to shower myself awake, I wept for the absence of my friend.

Once I found composure, I grabbed my camera and went for a walk. I didn’t have high hopes for a pretty morning, the forecast called for grey skies all day. However, as I left the hotel, the sky broke open and spilled morning’s warm glow across the quiet streets of Pacific Grove. I started to walk west, the sun’s embrace at my back encouraged me as I headed towards the ocean.

Walking along Sunset Drive, I listened to a morning filled with stillness. Waves crashed, sea lions barked, birds chirped. It was serenity, a perfect morning. After a few moments, I heard another sound, the sound of an engine, an Italian engine.

I turned just in time to see a white Alfa Romeo snaking towards me along the curves of Sunset Drive. Wrapped in the same warm sunlight that encouraged me to come to this place, it was a glorious sight, a sign.

Nick was there with me, in that sunlight, in that Alfa. That moment? It was perfect.

Miss you, old friend. Thank you for stopping by.

A hearse show in a cemetery