The awnings begin to be hung, the seagrass shows hints of green, the small buds on the trees across the street begin to emerge; each weekend signs of the season are all around us as summer residents arrive. I often sit and watch in amazement as they slowly unload furniture, umbrellas, flower pots, porch rugs and hurricane lanterns. It is as if I am watching a clown car being unloaded, it always makes me laugh, smile, and reminisce about long warm days spent in soft sand, soon to be had again.
Memories of boogie board lady, bocce’ ball man, “The Hoff,” and Magda from “Something About Mary,” draw a belly laugh. Let’s not forget her on again-off again gentleman friend, always dressed in freshly pressed khakis, a Members Only jacket and a crisp white bucket hat. We hope to see each of the characters on the beaches our family has called our own over the course of our years living on the island. We look forward to seeing ageless mother, who each summer appears with yet another baby on her hip, the string bean shaped twins looking less and less alike after each school year, and the grandmother getting frailer, each summer. We always breathe a sigh of relief as she makes the slow steady walk to her chair to enjoy the sounds of summer and the smiles on their multiplying faces yet again. They are all back yet again to enjoy our island for the summer.
Beach stories and the characters in them have grown into legendary tales in our family. It has been told that a haggard mother of nine once chained her youngest to a stake firmly planted in the beach sand. He did however have a ten foot length of leash attached so he could properly enjoy the beach, so it was okay. Her brother in law, visiting from out of town, was aghast. He immediately removed young Marty from his tether. Looking up, the mother said “well then you can watch him, you’ll see.” Not ten minutes later the wild child was back on the leash, the uncle did not return to the beach for the duration of his visit. There is the story of the family consisting of five siblings and their spouses with 13 young children between them who had their offspring use, what was affectionately known as the poop tent. I don’t think that one requires further explanation… Friends have told me stories of the pickle eating gentleman who sidles up as closely as he can to anyone who will listen summer after summer; crunching pickle after pickle. Rumor has it a young man, who had decided flip flops were not the proper footwear for him, once performed an elaborate dance across the burning hot sand. In between screaming as the sand scalded his delicate feet he would throw his beach chair a few feet, then would hop onto it for relief, jump into the sand only to perform the dance again.
In between all the folklore, legends, and comical stories are thoughts of the flawless beach day. Riding that pristine wave, the dreamy nap, the precisely prepared beach sandwich, the memorable time spent with family, friends, and beach friends who have become family. These days are precious, few and far in between. Mind the rules:
- Kite flying- don’t fly this directly over top of beachgoers, especially if you plan on getting fancy with your technique, or lack of…
- Umbrellas- simply poking this into the sand does not anchor it into the sand.
- Radios- enjoy your music, remember others don’t necessarily want to.
- Smoking- see number 3, insert the word cigarette.
- Seagulls- if you feed them once this does not mean they will go away.
- Jetties- don’t walk out onto them, it is not safe, there is a reason signs are posted.
- Swim in front of the guard- once I overheard someone wondering why people would swim in that one crowded area?
- Beach attire- some things can’t be unseen.
- Trash- no explanation needed, it wasn’t there when you sat down so shouldn’t be there when you stand up to leave.
- Make each beach visit into your perfect day- Labor Day comes too fast.
Each spring an old friend texts me with an update on how many days we have left until Memorial Day. I haven’t heard from her just yet, all I know is that we are almost there and I can’t wait…
For information on downsizing, organization, or redesigning your beach house Maureen can be reached at: Maureen@ocnjdaily.com
