Deja Vu, 5/21.
From ExLg, exactly one year ago today...
As I mentioned in a prior post, I spent most of last week in the Garden State. Growing up in the great American southwest, Jersey was often used as the antithesis of our sunny weather, blue skies and wide-open spaces. Even though I hadn't visited the East Coast, in my young mind Jersey equaled smokestacks, chemical plants, gray skies and crabby people. While very young I travelled through the sickening industrial fumes of Gary, Indiana — I figured New Jersey was the same thing, only much larger.
Frankly, parts of New Jersey earned that stereotype. While it isn't a million-hectare industrial park, it remains an ugly, gray mess in parts. However, from my few travels there, those parts seem confined to a relatively tiny section across the river from New York City. Everywhere else I've been is beautiful.
My first visit to the state in 2000 was mostly in and around Princeton. Not only was the campus breathtaking, the surrounding areas were right out of Dead Poets Society. Sculling crews rowing across placid lakes, ivied wooden bridges and thick forests changing colors in autumn. I also loved the history; quite a change from Phoenix where a 30-year-old Circle K would probably qualifies for Historic Preservation grants.
For my most recent trip, I stayed at the Molly Pitcher Inn in Red Bank. The old hotel sits on the waterfront of an ancient river which empties into the ocean a mile or two away. The estuary is lined with old growth trees and the mansions of athletes, politicians, Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi among others (you can identify the latter's home from the dumpsters filled with hair gel empties). Small sailboats cruise in and out of the hotel's marina for sunset fishing. It's beautiful.
Not only that, but the people were nicer than folks back in Phoenix. Every coffeehouse, convenience store and pizza shop treated me like royalty. And the pizza... whew. One slice and you can no longer deny the existence of a benevolent God.
So, to the fine citizens of New Jersey, I offer my apologies. I'm sorry I spent so many years ragging on your fine state and perpetuating some lame stereotypes. I still wouldn't want to live on the crowded East Coast, but I look forward to visiting the Garden State again.
As I mentioned in a prior post, I spent most of last week in the Garden State. Growing up in the great American southwest, Jersey was often used as the antithesis of our sunny weather, blue skies and wide-open spaces. Even though I hadn't visited the East Coast, in my young mind Jersey equaled smokestacks, chemical plants, gray skies and crabby people. While very young I travelled through the sickening industrial fumes of Gary, Indiana — I figured New Jersey was the same thing, only much larger.
Frankly, parts of New Jersey earned that stereotype. While it isn't a million-hectare industrial park, it remains an ugly, gray mess in parts. However, from my few travels there, those parts seem confined to a relatively tiny section across the river from New York City. Everywhere else I've been is beautiful.
My first visit to the state in 2000 was mostly in and around Princeton. Not only was the campus breathtaking, the surrounding areas were right out of Dead Poets Society. Sculling crews rowing across placid lakes, ivied wooden bridges and thick forests changing colors in autumn. I also loved the history; quite a change from Phoenix where a 30-year-old Circle K would probably qualifies for Historic Preservation grants.
For my most recent trip, I stayed at the Molly Pitcher Inn in Red Bank. The old hotel sits on the waterfront of an ancient river which empties into the ocean a mile or two away. The estuary is lined with old growth trees and the mansions of athletes, politicians, Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi among others (you can identify the latter's home from the dumpsters filled with hair gel empties). Small sailboats cruise in and out of the hotel's marina for sunset fishing. It's beautiful.
Not only that, but the people were nicer than folks back in Phoenix. Every coffeehouse, convenience store and pizza shop treated me like royalty. And the pizza... whew. One slice and you can no longer deny the existence of a benevolent God.
So, to the fine citizens of New Jersey, I offer my apologies. I'm sorry I spent so many years ragging on your fine state and perpetuating some lame stereotypes. I still wouldn't want to live on the crowded East Coast, but I look forward to visiting the Garden State again.
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