Trask Avenue

outside Hopewell, NJ

I like to refer to New Jersey as “Our Little Secret” because of its surprising diversity and beauty. Of course if you don’t live here you can’t call it that. You’ll have to find something else to lay that name upon which, I’m sure, won’t be too difficult. And since this is Blogland we’re all bound to find out about it sooner or later. So make it good.

Of course aspects of the state, like any other, are like hiking on a dead end trail or driving down wrong side of the street. Sure our governor could benefit from scaling back to a single scoop ice cream cone every now and then. Let’s start with once a month and work from there, shall we gov? And yes, the oil refineries which greet folks landing at Newark’s Liberty Airport can smell like a massive skunk convention when the wind blows in a certain direction (although they look eerily pretty at night). And yes, perhaps we are partly to blame for global climate change since 83% of the aerosol dispensed into the atmosphere came from cans of Aqua Net used by Jerseyans back in the good old days when that stuff was still aerosoled and the polar icecaps were still icy. All this is true. But we residents know the real deal and once our blood pressure returns to something resembling normal after any trip in the car, we can absorb the endless jokes made at the expense of our little hub of independence. We let y’all have your fun and, quite frankly, how could you not? The image perpetrated of New Jersey deserves a good ribbing. Hell, most of us laugh at it. At least those who choose to laugh rather than resort to acts of physical violence. But enough about the housewives.

Newark, NJ

Being somewhat proud to hail from the great Garden State I have taken it upon myself to reshape the perception of New Jersey to those who live beyond its borders. Of course I’m not doing this massive public service in any kind of sustained and coordinated manner. Don’t be silly. This is only my second post towards this end. As I mentioned in the first one months ago this “show them Jersey ain’t all that bad” is kind of a double edged sword. While I want you to know things here are actually quite different than you may think, I’m really not looking for you to come and see for yourself. I’m sure the state Tourism Board would disagree. Bully for them. They’re paid to lure you here to suck money out of your pockets. I’m not after your money; I’m after your heart. (Sorry about that.)

Tell you what. If you must visit take your inquisitive selves to the shore (or as most outsiders strangely call it, the “beach”). I’m a good 40 miles inland, so you being there won’t impact me being here. It’s not that I wouldn’t be delighted to meet each and every one of you. I just don’t want to do it all at once. There’s simply not enough parking.

Delaware River at Frenchtown, NJ

Red Bank, NJ (apologies to Edward Hopper for ripping off his idea)

Barnegat Light, NJ