I lived in New Jersey for most of my life, with the exception of five years in my early teens that I spent in Utah, my college years in New Hampshire and the last eight on the northern plains. During all those times, however, a piece of heart has remained back home in the garden state. Watching the devastation wrought by Sandy, and now a nor’easter has been heartbreaking. Words can’t even begin to describe my emotions right now.
I spent a lot of time at the shore as a teenager. My friends and I would drive down from northern NJ and go to Point Pleasant or usually Seaside. We’d spend the day in the sand and then play on the boardwalk until it was time for the long drive back north. We were definitely day trippers. As I got older, I started going to Long Beach Island, and spending time there. Its just the beach, no boardwalk. I read Stephen King’s The Stand amongst the dunes of Beach Haven. I learned that Jack Daniels is no friend of mine at a rental one summer. For day trips, I would go to Island Beach State Park-it was closer, and quiet.
This past June, we went home for the first time in eight years. My son went to the shore for the first time, at Point Pleasant. It was his first opportunity to play the games and ride the rides, and most notably, feel the sand and ocean. There is something magical about all that combined. There is the smell of salt air and food from the boardwalk. The noise and lights and the game barkers trying to convince you to play all circulate in your head. I had my beloved salt water taffy. Someone else ate my fudge. It was glorious.
Seeing the boardwalks of my youth destroyed has ripped my soul a little bit. I am so glad that we had the chance to share it with the Little Man before it was gone forever. I am heartsick that tens of thousands of people are still without power. Thousands have been left homeless. Just look at those sentences. Thousands of people have no homes. That is staggering. It will be years before all is rebuilt and recovered. In the meantime, the needs are vast.
If you want to help, there are many ways to donate.
Give to the Red Cross, Episcopal Relief and Development, Salvation Army or Feeding America.
Donate blood.
Send cards and care packages to first responders who are working tirelessly to help their communities recover.
Send school supplies to students who have lost theirs.
Pray.
And when its back open for business, go to the shore.
They will recover. They are Jersey Strong and we take care of our own.
I spent a lot of time at the shore as a teenager. My friends and I would drive down from northern NJ and go to Point Pleasant or usually Seaside. We’d spend the day in the sand and then play on the boardwalk until it was time for the long drive back north. We were definitely day trippers. As I got older, I started going to Long Beach Island, and spending time there. Its just the beach, no boardwalk. I read Stephen King’s The Stand amongst the dunes of Beach Haven. I learned that Jack Daniels is no friend of mine at a rental one summer. For day trips, I would go to Island Beach State Park-it was closer, and quiet.
This past June, we went home for the first time in eight years. My son went to the shore for the first time, at Point Pleasant. It was his first opportunity to play the games and ride the rides, and most notably, feel the sand and ocean. There is something magical about all that combined. There is the smell of salt air and food from the boardwalk. The noise and lights and the game barkers trying to convince you to play all circulate in your head. I had my beloved salt water taffy. Someone else ate my fudge. It was glorious.
Seeing the boardwalks of my youth destroyed has ripped my soul a little bit. I am so glad that we had the chance to share it with the Little Man before it was gone forever. I am heartsick that tens of thousands of people are still without power. Thousands have been left homeless. Just look at those sentences. Thousands of people have no homes. That is staggering. It will be years before all is rebuilt and recovered. In the meantime, the needs are vast.
If you want to help, there are many ways to donate.
Give to the Red Cross, Episcopal Relief and Development, Salvation Army or Feeding America.
Donate blood.
Send cards and care packages to first responders who are working tirelessly to help their communities recover.
Send school supplies to students who have lost theirs.
Pray.
And when its back open for business, go to the shore.
They will recover. They are Jersey Strong and we take care of our own.