Beach Days

Sometimes I think I’m the luckiest person in the world. All day I’d been feeling anxious about one small thing or another like finding an electrician and a handyperson for a bunch of tasks I lack the skill to do myself, then berating myself for lacking those skills. I worried about not watering the plants enough and how much difficulty I will have getting properly reimbursed by United Airlines for the three days I spent at Minneapolis Airport (Oh, I am not letting my loud and repeated complaints about that one go anytime soon. They let their staff go during the pandemic despite getting recovery money, haven’t settled with their pilots, etc., etc. This could be a whole separate essay if United deserved any more of my time). Even taking in the trashcan was a cause for anxiety.

But I am lucky enough to spend most of the summer at the Jersey shore. I love the Jersey shore. There’s always lots happening. Each town has a different personality, and today was a glorious beach day, not that I got closer to the water than a long walk on the boardwalk. What finally flipped the jumpy switch for me was when I sat down at my desk to write and looked out at the lights sparkling on the small lake outside my office window. The bar across the lake had a really fine band playing on the rooftop stage. Some of my neighbors find the weekly music annoying. Not me. Never. Free live music? Thank you. It’s country rock tonight. Sometimes it’s blues, jazz, folk. The performers are always at least good and often great. I love it. My mood has shifted. I’m so lucky.

And the next issue of ALTE is almost ready to go. We are pretty excited. ALTE will be exclusively online now and available on the website. The contents of the older print versions of ALTE are on the website as well. While you are eagerly waiting to read our first online issue, check out the website and peruse the old issues and other content.

https://www.altegettingoldtogether.com

Finally, since I’ve been reminiscing about New Jersey in the summer, I thought I’d leave you with Freddie Cannon and “Palisades Park”. I’m sure you remember the words.