I got the call around 8 p.m. Saturday night, while I was saying goodbye to my in-laws and thanking them for bringing my husband, Garth [not his real name] into the 21st century, by giving him a cool new mp3 player for his birthday (me next, okay?) and it is perhaps one of the most dreaded phone call (besides, you know, the school nurse, of course) that THIS Jersey mom hates, anyways.
"Wanna go on the hook?"
[blank stare]
Oh, I'm sorry, for those of you who are NOT from Jersey (i.e., Bennies) as you can see from the map of "the shore" (i.e. South of the Driscoll Bridge) "the hook" refers to Sandy Hook (see number 1 on map, above) and is lovingly referred to as the Gateway to the Jersey Shore.
[shiver]
"Um…uh…yeah…but, I'm busy saying goodbye to my in-laws, right now."
Silence.
"It's Garth's [not his real name] birthday."
[heavy sigh]
"Sure; what time?"
You see, Naturally-Tanned Mom LOVES the beach and we've been friends long enough for her to know that I can be pursuaded with the promise of a cranberry cocktail and…DAYUM…but, I hate, HAte, HATe, HATE driving in traffic!!!
"Won't be that bad; It's early, yet."
2 hours later.
"ARE…[cough]…WE…[gasp]…THERE…[wheeze]…YET!?!?"
Who knew that everyone (AND their brother) would have had the same exact idea and it's still only April, right?!?
Still. It really was a beautiful day. The surf was calm (for once) and the horizon did have that hazy, lazy look that we love so much.
I mean, we only live 12 miles away (typicaly a 25 minute drive, in
Jersey) and, well, there are just too many memories from summers past, that the kids and I would
miss, if it weren't for living so close to the beach.
Like, the sound of sea gull's cry, while swarms of crunchy little feet romp through the sand and dig for buried treasure.
Sharing goodies from our cooler and more than a few suh-weet surprises that Naturally-Tanned Mom always seems to remember to bring, gosh-darn her!
The amazingly resortative power of a sea breeze and how quickly those tiny little freckles appear soon after the sun's first kiss.
Not unlike another of my most favorite cocktails (what, did I mention, I have children?) those sea breezes really can sneak up on you to the point where everything from the neck up goes, you know, all curly.
Still, the disappointment of having to sit in 4 1/2 hours of traffic, for 1 1/2 hours of beach time, was really just TOO MUCH and, sorry to say my kid's are in agreement (for once) we won't be back anytime soon.
Not until construction's done, anyways.
"Was it really THAT BAD?"
No, Garth [not his real name] is NOT a big fan of the beach, to begin with, but he certainly never expected us to come home this tired…or, TARRED!
Happy Birthday, sweetie!
Makes mental note to AskPatty.com how in the heck does one remove melted tar from one's tire, or is it all, you know, fuhcotta?
Gosh, but I love Twitter!
[phone rings]
"Hey, Liz, it's me."
Oh, my other beach-loving friend called me this morning, too.
"DON'T GO TO SANDY HOOK this summer!"
Uh-yup she was there (along with the rest of NJ and NYC's metropolitan area, it seems) and she WAS going to get a season pass, too…stupid traffic!
© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.
Comments
30 responses to “Looking For Some Hot Fun in the Summertime, Then You Must NOT Be From Jersey!”
[Laughing]. Payback indeed. I’ll shut up now. 🙂
[Laughing]. Payback indeed. I’ll shut up now. 🙂
[Laughing]. Payback indeed. I’ll shut up now. 🙂
[Laughing]. Payback indeed. I’ll shut up now. 🙂
[Laughing]. Payback indeed. I’ll shut up now. 🙂
Still looks like lots of fun to me! 🙂
Still looks like lots of fun to me! 🙂
Still looks like lots of fun to me! 🙂
Still looks like lots of fun to me! 🙂
Still looks like lots of fun to me! 🙂
I usually head down about this time of year to get my season pass. I’d considered going this weekend, until one of my colleagues at school (who lives in the area) told me about the bridge. I remembered the awful traffic LAST summer when they began construction. I have one word for you…
weekdays.
I usually head down about this time of year to get my season pass. I’d considered going this weekend, until one of my colleagues at school (who lives in the area) told me about the bridge. I remembered the awful traffic LAST summer when they began construction. I have one word for you…
weekdays.
I usually head down about this time of year to get my season pass. I’d considered going this weekend, until one of my colleagues at school (who lives in the area) told me about the bridge. I remembered the awful traffic LAST summer when they began construction. I have one word for you…
weekdays.
I usually head down about this time of year to get my season pass. I’d considered going this weekend, until one of my colleagues at school (who lives in the area) told me about the bridge. I remembered the awful traffic LAST summer when they began construction. I have one word for you…
weekdays.
I usually head down about this time of year to get my season pass. I’d considered going this weekend, until one of my colleagues at school (who lives in the area) told me about the bridge. I remembered the awful traffic LAST summer when they began construction. I have one word for you…
weekdays.
Uh-yup, in-season, the kids and I are usually on the beach before 9:00 a.m. and outta there by noon, but NEVER on a weekend. Totally my bad. Forgot to mention that my SIL was in the car with us. She HATES going to the beach. I convinced her that, you know, it really wouldn’t be that bad. She’s STILL not speaking to me.
Hugs,
Liz
Uh-yup, in-season, the kids and I are usually on the beach before 9:00 a.m. and outta there by noon, but NEVER on a weekend. Totally my bad. Forgot to mention that my SIL was in the car with us. She HATES going to the beach. I convinced her that, you know, it really wouldn’t be that bad. She’s STILL not speaking to me.
Hugs,
Liz
Uh-yup, in-season, the kids and I are usually on the beach before 9:00 a.m. and outta there by noon, but NEVER on a weekend. Totally my bad. Forgot to mention that my SIL was in the car with us. She HATES going to the beach. I convinced her that, you know, it really wouldn’t be that bad. She’s STILL not speaking to me.
Hugs,
Liz
Uh-yup, in-season, the kids and I are usually on the beach before 9:00 a.m. and outta there by noon, but NEVER on a weekend. Totally my bad. Forgot to mention that my SIL was in the car with us. She HATES going to the beach. I convinced her that, you know, it really wouldn’t be that bad. She’s STILL not speaking to me.
Hugs,
Liz
Uh-yup, in-season, the kids and I are usually on the beach before 9:00 a.m. and outta there by noon, but NEVER on a weekend. Totally my bad. Forgot to mention that my SIL was in the car with us. She HATES going to the beach. I convinced her that, you know, it really wouldn’t be that bad. She’s STILL not speaking to me.
Hugs,
Liz
Hmm I spent quite a while poking around [not good at navigation / technically challenged person]
My brother used to live in NJ although that was before we moved to the States ourselves so we never quite managed a visit. [maybe we should visit him now = he’s moved to Beijing!]
Anyway, a day by the sea, no matter what happens, is the best therapy for everyone.
As for the tar, wait until it’s cold [as opposed to hot, sticky and oozing] and then remove with parafin – we used to use that to get tar off our feet so I think it should be safe for a tyre.
Cheers
Hmm I spent quite a while poking around [not good at navigation / technically challenged person]
My brother used to live in NJ although that was before we moved to the States ourselves so we never quite managed a visit. [maybe we should visit him now = he’s moved to Beijing!]
Anyway, a day by the sea, no matter what happens, is the best therapy for everyone.
As for the tar, wait until it’s cold [as opposed to hot, sticky and oozing] and then remove with parafin – we used to use that to get tar off our feet so I think it should be safe for a tyre.
Cheers
Hmm I spent quite a while poking around [not good at navigation / technically challenged person]
My brother used to live in NJ although that was before we moved to the States ourselves so we never quite managed a visit. [maybe we should visit him now = he’s moved to Beijing!]
Anyway, a day by the sea, no matter what happens, is the best therapy for everyone.
As for the tar, wait until it’s cold [as opposed to hot, sticky and oozing] and then remove with parafin – we used to use that to get tar off our feet so I think it should be safe for a tyre.
Cheers
Hmm I spent quite a while poking around [not good at navigation / technically challenged person]
My brother used to live in NJ although that was before we moved to the States ourselves so we never quite managed a visit. [maybe we should visit him now = he’s moved to Beijing!]
Anyway, a day by the sea, no matter what happens, is the best therapy for everyone.
As for the tar, wait until it’s cold [as opposed to hot, sticky and oozing] and then remove with parafin – we used to use that to get tar off our feet so I think it should be safe for a tyre.
Cheers
Hmm I spent quite a while poking around [not good at navigation / technically challenged person]
My brother used to live in NJ although that was before we moved to the States ourselves so we never quite managed a visit. [maybe we should visit him now = he’s moved to Beijing!]
Anyway, a day by the sea, no matter what happens, is the best therapy for everyone.
As for the tar, wait until it’s cold [as opposed to hot, sticky and oozing] and then remove with parafin – we used to use that to get tar off our feet so I think it should be safe for a tyre.
Cheers
Hey Maddy!
Being born and raised on the Jersey coast, I just can’t quit the beach. Thanks for the tips…stupid tire!
Liz
Hey Maddy!
Being born and raised on the Jersey coast, I just can’t quit the beach. Thanks for the tips…stupid tire!
Liz
Hey Maddy!
Being born and raised on the Jersey coast, I just can’t quit the beach. Thanks for the tips…stupid tire!
Liz
Hey Maddy!
Being born and raised on the Jersey coast, I just can’t quit the beach. Thanks for the tips…stupid tire!
Liz
Hey Maddy!
Being born and raised on the Jersey coast, I just can’t quit the beach. Thanks for the tips…stupid tire!
Liz