A summer night in 1978 on the Jersey Shore. This vignette about my father as a quiet hero was top of mind because in the past few weeks my father turned 88 and my son became a father for the first time.
Congrats on your son becoming a Dad. And for sharing your story. I am not sure we exchanged where we grew up. I am from Middletown. My Mom grew up going to The Windmill as a teen and it became a beloved place when she shared it with us. It's the star of my book Jersey Girls. Thanks for the humble memory and for sharing your Dad. So real for so many of us. I also love black licorice and Swedish Fish--and this sweet and humble share. How is your Skeeball Game?
Hi Barri. What a small world although the Windmill is quite a landmark. There also used to be a walk-through Haunted Mansion in Long Branch that we'd go to. I was decent at Skeeball. Very streaky. Some games I'd get a ton of coupons.
Yep. Grew up going there. With a 10/29 bday that was often a party location. I think my best sport is Skeeball. Many a ticket won. LOL! There is a Red Bank Windmill but that is the OG. And also Max's was pretty special on the old boardwalk.
Thank you for sharing. We share a similar dynamic. I’m just a few years older than you, grew up not too far away on LI, and now have a son who has children. The difference - my dad passed away a couple of years ago at 91. That he was my hero and best friend in a number of ways became more clear as we got older - cherish those last years. They mean so much to both of you.
Also, thanks for the throwback, I EXACTLY remember the summer of 78, I was 14 and our family went to Cape Cod for three weeks and I know it was 78 because the song Copacabana was all over the radio. Some great years.
If one wants another time capsule of the period and place, you can re-watch Jaws which was filmed on Martha's Vinyard in 1974.
I remember watching Jaws and I think it was at the same movie theater. It was as terrifying and behavior-changing movie as I can remember. It was also very well acted. Thanks Steven for that memory.
In Britain we had this idea that Americans were still going to school in their 30s due to all the movies and TV shows in which actors,male and female,all pushing 40 were playing the school kids!
ONJ was so adorable, most of us girls fell for her too. Travolta was cute but the character he played is so lame. Sweet story and I love black licorice too!
I had a strong dislike for black licorice, only liked red… except when the black licorice was candy-coated. I could devour some Good & Plenty, lol. And love that your dad was fierce and reasonable, most importantly, on your behalf. ❤️
“Quiet but firm”—I really love that. It perfectly reflects the kind of person you are. You may not speak often, but when you do, your words carry strength, clarity, and grace.
That was a lovely true story. I could really identify with you (sorry about that) but as a teenager I was never cool,in fact I was never really a teenager! ( Incidentally I've noticed the word teenager and even the concept no longer seems to exist - in British media terms anyway. Now persons are CHILDREN until they have their 18th birthday then they are ADULTS but there is a fuzziness about that especially if it's a woman who was technically over "the age of consent" which is 16 in Britain but she is sueing a man she had sex with several decades ago and pleads that despite being technically and even physically an adult she was mentally and emotionally still a child which I know is often true so once a fuzziness over the reality of when ones adult status starts,well it keeps lawyers in business!) That was a long aside. I think you brought it on yourself as the girl was in the right to object to you knocking that car. If you'd just nodded and said sorry would have been better. But you found that out! But I guess you learned from your Dad's behaviour the right way to deal with that sort of situation. I must add I'm not good at dealing with situations but I don't often get into them so that is lucky.
Thanks Jane. You're right that I should have just said, sorry. But you learn from your mistakes and I was lucky to have my dad by my side. We know that our brains are not close to fully developed when we're sixteen so I have trouble holding a sixteen year old to the same legal standards of judgment as a 61 year old.
Excellent post. Dads and Moms get a lot bad press for doing there jobs diligently with lots of love and concern and much acquired wisdom that sometimes gets unfairly faulted as too old school. The movie milieu of Rydell High is so innocent compared to what is happening today. But our really wise dads and moms keep on plying their wisdom to anyone wise enough to accept it. If you want to see a really great film with a really great Dad to a daughter who is not really his daughter but really is his daughter, for all practical speaking, I would highly recommend the 2015 film "The Intern." He is a fictional Dad. But he is the Best. Thanks for this. We all need to remember our Dads (and our Moms too).
Thanks Larry. I remember really liking The Intern and thinking it was very sweet. Two wonderful leads. I was surprised to see it was ten years old. Definitely on the rewatch list.
Chiming in to say I like black licorice, too. But haters gonna hate. 😂
There has to be an affinity group for this, Zina.
Congrats on your son becoming a Dad. And for sharing your story. I am not sure we exchanged where we grew up. I am from Middletown. My Mom grew up going to The Windmill as a teen and it became a beloved place when she shared it with us. It's the star of my book Jersey Girls. Thanks for the humble memory and for sharing your Dad. So real for so many of us. I also love black licorice and Swedish Fish--and this sweet and humble share. How is your Skeeball Game?
Hi Barri. What a small world although the Windmill is quite a landmark. There also used to be a walk-through Haunted Mansion in Long Branch that we'd go to. I was decent at Skeeball. Very streaky. Some games I'd get a ton of coupons.
Yep. Grew up going there. With a 10/29 bday that was often a party location. I think my best sport is Skeeball. Many a ticket won. LOL! There is a Red Bank Windmill but that is the OG. And also Max's was pretty special on the old boardwalk.
Your hero father.
What a great portrait
of who he IS.
You emulate and honor him
in your quietly generous ways
of rescuing people.
Thanks Deborah!
Sweet memory
Thank you for sharing. We share a similar dynamic. I’m just a few years older than you, grew up not too far away on LI, and now have a son who has children. The difference - my dad passed away a couple of years ago at 91. That he was my hero and best friend in a number of ways became more clear as we got older - cherish those last years. They mean so much to both of you.
Thanks Scott. My dad is feeling his age at 88 so yes, great advice about cherishing these last years.
Thanks for this, what a nice story.
Also, thanks for the throwback, I EXACTLY remember the summer of 78, I was 14 and our family went to Cape Cod for three weeks and I know it was 78 because the song Copacabana was all over the radio. Some great years.
If one wants another time capsule of the period and place, you can re-watch Jaws which was filmed on Martha's Vinyard in 1974.
I remember watching Jaws and I think it was at the same movie theater. It was as terrifying and behavior-changing movie as I can remember. It was also very well acted. Thanks Steven for that memory.
What a lucky intervention from your father, and what a good example he set.
So lovely to see your own son becoming a father. Congratulations to you all.
I found the Sandy on the right less intimidating, too!
Thanks Wendy. My crush was definitely on the sweet version. I also remember seeing the play on Broadway when I was younger.
In Britain we had this idea that Americans were still going to school in their 30s due to all the movies and TV shows in which actors,male and female,all pushing 40 were playing the school kids!
Ha! That’s very true!
ONJ was so adorable, most of us girls fell for her too. Travolta was cute but the character he played is so lame. Sweet story and I love black licorice too!
Jennifer, thanks for the comment and the licorice support.
I had a strong dislike for black licorice, only liked red… except when the black licorice was candy-coated. I could devour some Good & Plenty, lol. And love that your dad was fierce and reasonable, most importantly, on your behalf. ❤️
Thanks Demian. My wife Debbie has a real aversion to licorice so I haven't had Good & Plenty for a while.
“Quiet but firm”—I really love that. It perfectly reflects the kind of person you are. You may not speak often, but when you do, your words carry strength, clarity, and grace.
Thanks Romell. You are a good friend!
Thanks for sharing this vignette from your teen years. You have definitely inherited your father's traits.
Thanks William.
I definitely learn from you.
Still wonderful. Thanks!
I support your candy choices, David. Lol
My ultimate hero is Mr. Rogers, but a dad like yours would have been pretty great. And I like black licorice, too.
Thanks Liz. The accolades for black licorice are reaffirming my faith in humanity!
That was a lovely true story. I could really identify with you (sorry about that) but as a teenager I was never cool,in fact I was never really a teenager! ( Incidentally I've noticed the word teenager and even the concept no longer seems to exist - in British media terms anyway. Now persons are CHILDREN until they have their 18th birthday then they are ADULTS but there is a fuzziness about that especially if it's a woman who was technically over "the age of consent" which is 16 in Britain but she is sueing a man she had sex with several decades ago and pleads that despite being technically and even physically an adult she was mentally and emotionally still a child which I know is often true so once a fuzziness over the reality of when ones adult status starts,well it keeps lawyers in business!) That was a long aside. I think you brought it on yourself as the girl was in the right to object to you knocking that car. If you'd just nodded and said sorry would have been better. But you found that out! But I guess you learned from your Dad's behaviour the right way to deal with that sort of situation. I must add I'm not good at dealing with situations but I don't often get into them so that is lucky.
Thanks Jane. You're right that I should have just said, sorry. But you learn from your mistakes and I was lucky to have my dad by my side. We know that our brains are not close to fully developed when we're sixteen so I have trouble holding a sixteen year old to the same legal standards of judgment as a 61 year old.
Excellent post. Dads and Moms get a lot bad press for doing there jobs diligently with lots of love and concern and much acquired wisdom that sometimes gets unfairly faulted as too old school. The movie milieu of Rydell High is so innocent compared to what is happening today. But our really wise dads and moms keep on plying their wisdom to anyone wise enough to accept it. If you want to see a really great film with a really great Dad to a daughter who is not really his daughter but really is his daughter, for all practical speaking, I would highly recommend the 2015 film "The Intern." He is a fictional Dad. But he is the Best. Thanks for this. We all need to remember our Dads (and our Moms too).
Thanks Larry. I remember really liking The Intern and thinking it was very sweet. Two wonderful leads. I was surprised to see it was ten years old. Definitely on the rewatch list.