I remember the fun so many of us had at Asbury Park, NJ when it was in its prime. On many weekends a lot of people would gather in cars, – in those days there were no seat belts, no real crowding on the roads, and no one to stop the driver of a car for having too many people in it. So, off we went from Manhattan, eager to taste the ocean air, dance, walk on the sand, enjoy the merriment of the environment, visit the fun house, and feast our eyes on the sturdy and well-designed whimsical buildings beckoning to us to enjoy what was inside. Once for $3 a woman read my palm, and years later when she suddenly came to mind, I had to salute her accuracy.
Then life got very busy, and for many years I temporarily forgot about Asbury Park, NJ. And so, one day on my way to somewhere else, I passed this once delightful place that had brought so much innocent entertainment and enjoyment to so many, and thought, “What happened to you dear friend? What a haggard look you’re wearing. Doesn’t anyone love you anymore? How undignified and unnecessary for you to be left this way.”
Now recently on a visit to somewhere else, I had a chance to glimpse an Asbury Park, NJ edging toward new life. And I whispered to it, “Hooray for you, Asbury Park!” And so, once again people care, and it shows. Its boardwalk is seeing a wonderful selection of speciality restaurants, a few stands that smack of organic and nutrition, a bakery that has its customers coming back again and again, and a small seafood place next door that does the same, there are hat shops, courses in pottery and glass making, galleries, entertainment, a most creative water playground for children, – yes, all that and more. There are condos being built and people moving in, and the town is in the process of becoming what the people moving in and those opening businesses want it to be. Lots of creativity happening.
Hooray for you, Asbury Park!