Jersey Summers mean "Down the Shore"

Ah, memories.  The recent article on Jersey Shore towns brought back memories of growing up in the Greater Delaware Valley for me.

I grew up in Northeast Philadelphia and then in South Jersey, before moving up to this area about 17 years ago.  But for about 8 summers, growing up took place at the Jersey shore.  My family trekked every summer - usually for the month of August - to Long Beach Island, specifically Surf City.

Between the ages of 8 and 16, we would load up the cars, meet up with other relatives and begin the trek to LBI.  We packed up everything - food, clothes, sheets, towels - it seemed like we were basically moving our whole house down the shore.

On the way down, always a stop at Mayo's Halfway House for a snack, but we knew the best part of the drive was still coming - the smell of the fresh air once the car reached the causeway that crossed the bay!  Ah, the sweet smell of the shore!

Picking up the keys to the rental house, unpacking the car and settling in and yet, all the while begging "Mom, can we go to the beach?"  "Please"; until we finally got our way and got to see the ocean for the first time all summer.

Who can forget renting beach chairs and bikes from Farias', breakfast at Bill's or playing golf at Bill Burr's Mini golf?  Summers on LBI were a mix of home and vacation because everything was familiar, old but with a new twist.  Your school teacher was now selling you a surf glider or your principal was laying on the beach on a towel right near your own.

We never thought about the work it took for our parents to get all this done.  Dad driving back and forth so he could go to work, Mom still having to wash and cook - was it really a vacation for her?  But then you remember the nights.  Walking the beach, meeting a special boy or seeing your parents "dating" at the Surf City Hotel lounge?

The summer was the time to break away from your parents and just have a good time, something we all would love to bottle up and keep for eternity.

Yes, for so many of us the Jersey Shore is summer.  And the memories only get sweeter as the years go by.

Happy Birthday to my Baby!

It's hard to believe that I am the mother of a 19 year old child.  But every day of his 19 years have been the most wonderful days of my life.  Even on my saddest days, my son can make me smile.  Even on the days that he make me so angry, I feel love.  Even on the days that he is far away at college, I feel his warmth and affection.

I have been lucky to raise a son who is smart, funny, cute, great to have a conversation with, polite and well-mannered and has the common sense to know right from wrong.  He believes in God & country, he loves his very extended family, he loves history, working with kids and having fun.

He is everything I always I hoped he would be.  And I love him so very much.

Happy Birthday Baby. You have made this 19 years all the better and I look forward to sharing the rest of our lives and seeing you become all I know you can be!

What a Week!

The last 7 days have been crazy here in the Devonshire household.  It has just felt nonstop but yet in many ways that is the perfect thing for May.  As many of you know, May is not my favorite month.  (If you don't remember, here's why).  


So here is the last week for me....


Saturday....Work a full 9 hour day at Macy's and have the most achy feet ever.  There was just no way not have sore feet after an full day shift.  I must admit it is time for me to give full credit to all the people who work in retail - it is a really hard job.  


Sunday....All day at the Mid-Atlantic Region WLCJ Spring conference.  Up at 5:00am to get out the door by 7:30 am was not home until 7:00pm....long day on my feet again and I also taught two sessions on using Social Media.  A odd thing happened at the second session discussion - when I asked if the new presidents would like us to communicate via Facebook - almost all of them said "no" - really loudly.  When I finally got them to tell me why, they said no mixing personal FB with professional FB - I had to explain about groups and private messaging and then they seemed better.


Monday....Tuesday....Work all day and then getting ready to drive to SC to pick up the boy from college.  So that means laundry, packing, organizing, and oh...did I mention working at Macy's both nights too?  By now you can imagine how much my feet really hurt...and how tired I am.


Wednesday....after beautiful weather all week it decides to rain, and of course we are driving this night.  So we both work all day, attend a viewing and then load up the cars and drive to the AC Airport to drop off a car before driving 6 more hours.....finally stopping in Petersburg, VA for the night at 2:00am.  We find a hotel, get the last room and pass out.


Thursday...up at 8:00am, breakfast and in the car to finish the drive to college.  Get there at 2:30pm.  Get to my son's dorm, pick him up and go eat lunch.  Driving time total - 10 hours.  Back to the room, packing and driving to storage unit, dinner then go to the hotel and fall asleep at 9:30pm.


Friday....finish packing and cleaning dorm room and some down time with my son and hubby at the mall (raining again!)  nice lunch and then my son drops us off at the airport for our 9:00pm flight home - he is driving home.  Land in AC at 10:30pm, drive home - fall into bed at midnight - exhausted.


Saturday - Up at 5:00am to pack up the car as I am a vendor at the 5th Annual Heat to Toe Expo for women.  I was very excited about this event and it was great.  I certainly wish I had more time to check out the rest of the event, but my Cookie Lee Jewelry table was busy and that's a good thing!


So while the past seven days have been full and busy, it has all been so rewarding.  My son is home for the summer safely and I am moving forward with my work.  But most of all Sunday is a day of rest and Mother's Day...and who can ask for more?  


Not me.


P.S.  That is a picture of my Mom in 1966...very attractive, eh?





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