Monday, September 7, 2009

The Long Way Home



While Neil Armstrong is My Uncle.. takes place in Massapequa, New York, it was written in New Jersey. That's where I live. One of the best things about the Jersey shore is the sea, of course. I took these pics during the 20 mile drive from work to home. Normally, I travel up and down the Garden State, but when I slow down and take the back roads, here's what I see.




This is Huddy Park, across the street from the library in Toms River. On Wednesdays in the summer they have a farmers market. They also have events like the annual "Wooden Boat Fesitval" and the "Art and Music Festival". Btw, I was standing on this bridge, when I got "the call".



I'm heading south now near Beachwood.



Here's the town of Ocean Gate.The population is about 2000, but I bet it swells to more than that in the summer. For a quiet walk, nothing beats the boardwalk in this town.


I love the eerie feeling of this place. Driving by, all you see are hundreds of these skeletons of electric poles in a marshland. It's a wildlife refuge, but obviously it was something else at one time.



Still moving south, I found a new store called the Hippie House. Wish they were there when I was researching 1969. I'll be searching the place for something to bring to my school visits.


This is the main street in my home town. You know you live in a small town when the local supermarket is described as "the keystone store". But there are lots of cool places here, such as Hope Hypnosis. Hypnotherapist Mary Silvernail has done seminars at our library.





I'm home! If I walk 100 yards from my front door, here's what I see.

Most days, I take the Parkway and hardly notice. But I think I'm gonna take the long way home more often.

5 comments:

MG Higgins said...

You live in a beautiful place. Yes, take the long way.

nanmarino said...

Thanks MG. It's good to slow down sometimes.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing with us, Nan. I'm glad that you were on that bridge when you got "the call." It's the purrfect setting to begin your new life as a writer.

I'm intrigued...let me know what you find in the Hippie House.

And yes, take the back roads more often...you never know what treasures you will find.

cleemckenzie said...

The long way home lovely. I loved the pictures because now I can see where you are and what you're looking at when we talk or exchange emails. Love context--I'm so field dependent.

nanmarino said...

SA, I'm sure I find a treasure or two at the Hippie House. I'll let you know.
SOTE, Me too. That's why I enjoy your blogs with the pics of your garden.