Wednesday, September 12, 2012

As Summer Draws To An End

With Labor Day just around the corner, things are really bustling here on 25 James St. and 29 Flint Rd. in Toms River. Everyone is trying to cram in any last remaining fun in the sun before September comes and school starts. The roads are teeming with cars full of families headed to the beach, trying to enjoy the ocean before the temperatures start to dip. School shopping is in full force with every store offering unbelievable deals on anything from school supplies to back to school clothes. I also see the sad faces of the teenagers resigned to the fact that their carefree days of summer are coming to an end, and the little kids that are bursting with excitement and anticipation about all the great things that they will be doing in school. They all know that once September is here things go back to normal.

You see, living at the Jersey Shore to me is wonderful .  I love the fact that I can enjoy the Ocean, Barnegat Bay, and all of the other natural beauty of the area. There is a peaceful quiet that prevails for about nine months out of the year, then, WHAM!! Summer comes and everybody from every part of the state, as well as several other states invade our tiny area. Driving anywhere in town takes twice as long, and forget about the local businesses and vendors. They are buzzing with activity trying to keep up with the high demand for their product. You can’t blame those out of town folks.  We do have all of the amenities for summer fun and relaxation.  The local businesses also count on the additional revenue from the summer tourist season. This is the only way they can stay in business during the slower winter months.  Down this way it isn’t uncommon for your entire year to hinge on your earnings during the summer season. But, just the thought of getting back to normal is very thrilling to me. I am used to being first or second on line at WaWa, and this entire summer I averaged about tenth in line. Here I am on my way to work, grabbing a quick cup of coffee, and everyone else is wearing bathing suits and flip flops ready to have a great day on the beach. I would feel so jealous until I thought about who the lucky one really is! You see, they enjoy our beautiful area while it is crowded and congested, while we get to enjoy it all year round. This makes me feel better as I stand in that long line.

The one thing that I do miss once summer is gone is all of our tenants that use our facility for their summer fun. They store their jet skis, campers, and camping gear. Once summer is over they park for the winter, and start planning for their next summer adventure. We don’t see them often during the winter months. Every once in a while they will stop down to check their belongings and see if they OK.  They’ll stop in to chat and let us know what has been going on with them.

Well, good bye Summer! You were beautiful while you lasted, but for this Ocean County resident it will bring peace and quiet back into my small little town.

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