I am normally a meticulous planner, scheduling things to take place, and ensuring completion. However, I'd never deny the fact that life occasionally tosses a wrench into the best of plans, causing them to go awry. Rarely is this ever a joy. On the flip side, though, is the "friendly interruption" of a self-imposed reprieve which takes one away from current busyness. Most welcome, it is. This past Tuesday, as I continued to recover from a recent illness and edged along, doing the few writing assignments I allowed myself during this period, my wife Lucille text messaged me during a shopping trip, desiring to get away for a brief few hours and take a day trip. We both decided on the shore area, which we knew would be somewhat devoid of lots of people, and we could venture to spots where just she and I could and would walk with nature. Also, I thought the shore air fed by the saltwater sea might help clear my congestion. So, after a trip to Long Branch, New Jersey's Wind Mill Hot Dogs for a mid-afternoon lunch (blog to come this Wednesday), we drove to Sandy Hook, parked the car, and strolled. Call me crazy, but I believe that foliage, left in its natural state -- many times succumbing to the seasonal elements or passing of time -- is sometimes just as lovely as a full bloom of springtime flowers. Partner with both any accompanying silence, and this is the perfect time for contemplation and reflection, creation, and most of all, some sort of peace. Yes, cactus lives in some spots along the coast. While at the Hook, we visited the Halyburton Memorial monument, itself a bit hidden as one drives by on the neighboring road. The story behind the memorial may be found online. Our final stop during our 45-minute Sandy Hook visit was the very familiar Beach D. Nearby is the sad wreck of the popular Seagull's Nest restaurant, closed since 2012 when Hurricane Sandy rendered everything inside inoperable. Lucille and I sat in the car, looking through the opening in the dunes and out at the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. We were the only people in the area, but not the only living thing. The gull pictured below was quite picturesque and not shy, posing for me as I drove the car slowly towards the exit and took a few photos. Our trek home along busy Routes 36, 35, and the Garden State Parkway were a complete contrast to the serenity, but irreplaceable were the memory and happiness created during our shore sojourn.
Steve
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Steve Sears is a New Jersey based freelance writer
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