So Much Jersey Stuff, Part III

Ok, here's my final installment of So Much Jersey Stuff.

On Wednesday my cousin Ben and I went down to Island Heights. Ben hadn't been to the house in a long time and since we were already waxing nostalgic on all sorts of things, it seemed natural that he, too, re-experience Aunt Douglas's home. Leave it to me to muck things up.

On Monday night, I said to Ben, "I'm putting the key to Aunt Douglas's in my suitcase. Remind me to bring it on Wednesday."

Ben's reply was, "There's no chance I'm going to remember that!"

Knowing a Forest defect when I see one, I thought to myself, Okay, I'll just put my rental car key here, too. That way, when I get the car key I'll also grab the house key.

Yeah, not so much. As we turned onto Rt. 37 in Toms River I realized I'd forgotten the key. Ben suggested we go back, but that seemed excessive. So instead, we went to Island Heights and Ben got to see the place from the outside and we talked a bit about family and what not. Then we went down to the river and walked about and I took some more pictures. It was a wet day and we had dark skies that threatened rain.

Another view of the public dock.

Not sure what kind of birds these are, but I think they are cormorants.

After roaming around Island Heights we headed east to Seaside Heights. As you know, Seaside Heights was devastated by Hurricane Sandy. I couldn't help but want to see how the storm had changed a place where I had spent so much time as a youngin'.

The cranes are in the spot where the roller coaster used to be.

A beautiful and imposing sky over the Atlantic.

The only memory I have from Lucky Leo's is me not having much luck!

This is at the other end of the boardwalk. It used to be full of rides.

Creepy!

This is Jane. She was manning the candy shop where we got some fudge. She had a nice way about her.

A wet and off-season boardwalk.

Love these signs. I'm sure they are the same ones I knew 30 years ago. (Ack, did I say 30?)

After Seaside Heights we had to stop for donuts on the other side of the Barnegat Bay Bridge. Ben insisted on the local fame of the shop - Ob Co's - and indeed Yelp had rave reviews and 5 stars. My donut was quite tasty, I must admit, and, more importantly, it was pink.

Pink fried goodness.

After donuts (I actually saved that pink goodness for later) we stopped for lunch at the Toms River Diner and I finally got my fries with gravy. Let me say that again. French fries with gravy. Yum!

We headed back to Red Bank, where we relaxed for a bit before I persuaded Ben to take me out to Sandy Hook, another location full of childhood memories, all of them good and all of them involving my paternal grandmother, Grandma Forest. The last time I had been to Sandy Hook was for Ben and Amy's wedding. I was sad to see how many of the old buildings out at Fort Hancock had fallen into disrepair, though I can understand why. There's only so much money that can be spared.

Officer housing from across the fair grounds.

The front side of the officer housing, all of which faces west across the water to the main land.

The porches.

House facade.

Porch detail.

Talk about home security systems.

Ben said there had been talk of at least maintaining the officer's club, but it seems unlikely given its current state.

Upper floors of the officer's club.

Front porch of the club.

Much of the old base is in a rough state, but the light house is still operational and quite picturesque.

And though the sun hid behind a cloud, mucking up what would have been a lovely sunset and perfect light on the old Fort Hancock base, I still got a nice evening shot.

The next day I drove back to Maplewood. I had the afternoon with Adele and then we went out to Newton to see Lisa, Rich and EJ. It was Halloween so we got to see EJ in his neat-o NASA costume. It was a wonderful way to end my stay in New Jersey.

 

So Much Jersey Stuff, Part II

Since I'm already in Connecticut, I need to get myself moving with these postings!

Where was I? Oh, yeah, it's now Tuesday and I'm off to NYC with my second cousin, Kara, to meet up with Mr. V. (aka Michael Villaseñor) for a visit to the Met. Kara and I took NJ Transit from Red Bank to Penn Station, New York, where we loitered outside of Madison Square Garden for Michael.

Diggin' the light on this building. Not to mention all the ACs in the windows.

The "cawna".

Kara and Michael at the NJ Transit entrance to Penn Station.

Once Michael showed up, we cabbed it over to the museum. The Met is huge. I'm sure it wasn't that big last time I was there! Kara kept track of the different exhibits we went through, but so much of it is a blur to me: Egypt, the American Wing (sigh), Impressionists (always beautiful), the special Balthus exhibit (meh), and heaven only knows what else. I took a bunch of pictures, but I'll only bore you with a few sculpture related shots.

This is some big wig Egyptian chic, but I can't remember which. Kara would know.

The goddess, Sakhmet.

Diana, the Huntress.

I think this was from the Cyprus collection.

Then, once I exhausted myself completely, we cabbed it back to the station and hopped the train back to Red Bank. (Side note: I managed to get out of the Met Store without selling my soul to my credit card company.)

From the crazy cab - and I do mean crazy.

More lovely light.

So Much Jersey Stuff has one more episode coming, I just have to download some photos - more Island Heights, some Seaside Heights boardwalk pics and even some Sandy Hook shots.

 

So Much Jersey Stuff, Part I

Time is flying by like crazy. I've already been in New Jersey for 9 days!

My dad's memorial service, and the reception that followed, on Saturday, Oct. 26, was lovely. My cousin, Ben, officiated the service. Adele, Uncle Jim and I spoke for the family and then a bunch of dad's friends came up and shared stories. There were close to about 100 people there, give or take, many of whom I didn't know. I was very happy to see familiar faces, like my Uncle Barry and Jens (dad's frat brothers) and Douglas and Mitch (dad's train buddies). I got to put some faces to names, mainly to some of dad's friends and colleagues from the law firm where he worked. And of course I spoke with many others familiar and new, though I wished I'd had more time with some. I'm so glad we had the service, even though I know my dad wasn't enthusiastic about the idea. There really is something to be said about the closure such an event can bring.

Here's the brochure I made for the service and the text I read.

Sunday morning Adele, Albert, Lily, Lisa, EJ and I scattered dad's ashes. That hit me harder than I expected.

A leaf on the RR tracks where we scattered dad's ashes.

Later that day I went down to Red Bank to attend a surprise party for my cousin Ben. It was a very belated happy 50th and it was great fun. A nice flip side to Saturday's event.

Ben in the center with the big grin on his face. He was very surprised.

One of the guests at the party.

I spent Sunday night in Red Bank and on Monday I drove down to Island Heights, which is where I spent every summer from about 12 years old until the time I went off to college, not to mention countless weekends and holidays. I loved being down there with my great aunt and my South Jersey friends (like Sharron, that crazy Havens girl!). Her lovely daughter, and my daughter through some blood-sister mojo-juju, Candee, met me in town with coffee and Dunkin Donuts.

Island Heights was founded as a Methodist summer camp meeting vacation spot.

My great aunt's little cottage.

A view of Toms River from Sharron's family home.

Detail of The Artist's Guild, a place that shows local art. It's been there for as long as I can remember.

Looking at town from the end of the public dock.

The public dock. Many, many hours of swimming and ice skating were launched from this dock.

The post office!

Island Heights is a beautiful town. I was lucky to have spent so much time there growing up and it felt great to visit, even if only for a short one. Some photos found while poking around the house...

I found this in an old scrapbook from the 1930’s. Made me miss SF.

After waxing nostalgic in Island Heights, I headed south to Manahawkin and Sharron. After taking advantage of Sharron's hospitality by doing laundry and taking a shower, she took me sight-seeing.

The Pine Barrens, home of the Jersey Devil.

More Pine Barrens.

Skeletrino searching for bodies in the Pine Barrens.

Out on Long Beach Island.

Barnaget Light House.

Sunset fishermen.

Another view of Barnaget Lighthouse.

Sunset and fishing boats.

We ended the evening with a pizza and a far too short visit with Sharron and all her beautiful girls. An overall wonderful day.

So Much Jersey Stuff, Part II coming soon.

 

Red Bank & Family Time

Wednesday, Day 2, was mainly running around doing random things in prep for Dad's memorial service on Saturday. I made a brochure for the service and Adele and I made a display of pictures of dad on a foam board. Both came out nicely.

Thursday was a fun day. Adele and I went down to Red Bank to meet up with Uncle Jim and Nancy. Red Bank is pretty much as I remember it, just with newer store fronts and restaurants. If I were going to live in New Jersey, Red Bank would be a good place to settle. My father's maternal family have been in NJ for a long time, pre-revolutionary, and in Monmouth County for a good portion of that time, though, of course, family scatters and imports new members. I grew up visiting Red Bank. I remember my grandmother taking me shopping on Broad Street, pictured below, and afterwards we'd go for a treat to an ice cream parlor down one of the side streets. I get very nostalgic when I'm in this part of NJ. We even stopped to take pictures of my grandmother's tiny little house on Newman Springs Road. Looks pretty much the same as it did when I was 10. I wish I could step in through the side door and find my grandmother at the kitchen table, reading the New York Times and puffing on her cigarillo. She was an exceptional woman.

Memories aside, we picked up Nancy and Jim and headed downtown for lunch and to get copies made of the memorial brochure.

Broad Street, Red Bank

More Broad Street

Nancy, Jim and Adele, downtown Red Bank

I was tickled pink when I unexpectedly found myself in front of Kevin Smith's comic book shop, Jay & Silent Bob's Secret Stash. Totally neat-o! My luggage limitations prevented me from making any desired purchases, but none of that mattered when I found myself face to face with Buddy Jesus!

Woot!

Buddy Jesus!

After lunch we decided to take a drive out to the Holmes-Hendrickson House, a historical site and former home of a long-ago ancestor. All we could do was lurk outside as the house was closed for the winter.

Nice little red house.

Close-up of the front facade.

Woods next to the house.

Had to let Madge loose.

The four of us. Madge got down in the grass for the shot.

After leaving the Holmes-Hendrickson house we went back to my cousin's place and socialized for a while before Adele and I decided we should get on the road home. It was a happy and joyful day.

End of Day 3.

 

Back in Jersey

Well, I made it to NJ without any issues.

The only excitement during the whole journey was the Super Shuttle ride to SFO. The driver was a little early so I ended up rushing to get dressed. This was not a problem for me as I was pretty much ready, just lacking, well, pants. Being ahead of schedule for one of the passengers, however, proved to be more of an issue. When we got to the third stop after my pick-up we were about 10 or 15 minutes early and the person being picked up wasn't ready. This other passenger, who was sitting in the back row in the seat closest to the door, started to complain about how the rest of us shouldn't be inconvenienced because this other person wasn't ready. Despite being told that the pick up time was scheduled for between 8:00 and 8:15, she felt we shouldn't have to wait around. When the new person came out - at about 8:02 - this other woman barely moved so the girl had to climb over her to get into a seat. I thought to myself, "Talk about inconveniencing people." I mean, really, you can't move in? "Maybe she gets off at one of the first airlines." That's me, giving her the benefit of the doubt. We get to our last pickup and the driver asks her if she can move in so the guy can get in, but all she does is purse her lips and move her knees so this tall guy has to climb all over her. I raised my eyebrows. All of us except miss sour puss chatted nicely with each other - it seemed appropriate we acknowledge each other as the van was at full capacity with 7 passengers and the driver. When we got to SFO, sure enough Miss Can't-Be-Inconvenienced was getting off at United, the last of the stops. I hope she got a middle seat on her flight and was bookended by two really big, smelly guys.

But all was fine for me. I got through security without having to have a body cavity search, strolled through the terminal in my Ativan-inspired chill mood, bought some new noise-canceling earbuds (which I do not regret at all), and then boarded the plane to my first class seat. Oh, here was some drama - people sitting in the wrong seats! Hah hah hah. Don't people look at their tickets? I mean, really, there are only 16 seats in first class, how hard can it be?

Snow tops! Yay!

Fluffy! Blue!

I read for a while, looked out the window, had lunch, read some more and then napped a little and suddenly we were landing. My luggage was the sixth bag out - yup, take that, sixth out - and then I was in a cab on my way to Maplewood.

Adele had made some fresh chicken noodle soup and I enjoyed a bowl of that. Yes, I am spoiled. We caught up, planned our errands for Wednesday, and then I went to bed.

Sleeping the dreamless sleep of the damned.

End of Day 1.

 

Ready to Head East, Mostly

My bags are packed, mostly. My to-do list is complete, mostly. My schedule is pretty well laid out, mostly. My anxiety is moderate, mostly.

Stuffed by Skeletrino

Skeletrino Readiness

I already miss my cats and I don't leave till Tuesday.

I'll miss this!

And I'll even miss this. Really.

Essential itinerary: Maplewood, Island Heights, Goshen, Boston. Return via the Lake Shore Limited and the California Zephyr.