New Jersey Baby Boomer

I wanted so much to mention George Carlin on my New Jersey Baby Boomer blog that I went out of my way trying to find connections to NJ. First, I found that he was born in New York, the closest connection there is the constant reminder from my Colorado relatives that when they think of NJ, it’s just an extension of NY to them. I don’t usually take to kindly to that, but if it brings George Carlin closer, then okay.

Next I was reminded that he was in the 2004 movie “Jersey Girl” where he plays a father to the character played by Ben Afflick, and he lives in…you guess it… NEW JERSEY, how exciting, a connection at last, thus connecting George Carlin to my humble home State.

Although George Carlin is best known for going over the line as far as using words that I avoid, I’d like to focus in on his better side….I’m back here on July 9th, editing this post. It was too focused on the negative, my dislike for his being popular for his use of bad language.  I am just going to edit that all out right now, and say that I did listen to, and laugh at George Carlin on a number of occasions…there were some great “clean” skits that he did that really made you think.  George Carlin is often quoted as stating the following, but according to Snopes, he never did, and was upset at even being associated with it.  But I like it, and am leaving it in the post, no matter who said it.

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers,
wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete…

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.

Remember, to say, “I love you” to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and and embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

We just got home from our local commemoration of this great day in the center of our town of West Milford at our war memorial. I am sure, at least hope, this is being repeated in many towns across the USA. Sitting in front of me was a frail but wonderful WWII Veteran. Sitting front and center were 2 families of our most recent casualties…I don’t like that word, I mean our most recent heroes to give their lives in Iraq. It was special to simply be able to shake a hand, give a hug to a tearful family member, to say “thank you” knowing that there were no words that could take away the pain. We thank those who have served our Nation and paid the ultimate price. Also remembered were local heroes who died in the attack on 911, names that many know nationwide from our area, like Father Mychael F. Judge who left our local catholic church to be a Chaplain for the NY City Fire Department, the image of his body being carried from the World Trade Center ruins now impressed in the minds of many, among the first if not the first victim we heard about after the attack. And Jeremy Glick, a hero of United Airlines Flight 93. So many more names that we must never forget. My son took a few pictures, one shown above.

Now, what has become my favorite patriotic song with wonderful images to stir the heart to remember, and thank you not just to NJ heroes, but all of our heroes all over the USA:

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

I was listening to the weather today, and heard some not so fun news about one of our beautiful shore points, Cape May. They are experiencing some flooding. They showed a picture of water-filled streets that someone captured on their camera.

I’ve also heard that a woman went overboard late last night from a Norwegian Cruise Line ship at Atlantic City, another popular shore point, and it’s not easy to search for anyone during coastal storms like we’re experiencing today. I guess we’ll hear more about that later today.

I hope all will turn out okay, and I’m not here to post a lot of “gloom and doom”…life goes on, and life in Cape May is beautiful.

We have had the pleasure of vacationing there on a few occasions, and I had a class trip to the area when in 8th grade. To get there from here, we have to drive the length of the State of New Jersey…we live almost as far north as you can get, and Cape May is almost as far south as you can drive in NJ…approximately 3.5 hours away. Pictured is the Cape May lighthouse.

Cape May is not far from Wildwood, so we enjoy both beaches when we’re there. The walk to the water on Wildwood’s sandy beach is a long one on the hot sand if it’s a hot summer day, but that makes for a lot of area to enjoy the beach.

Wildwood is known for it’s LONG boardwalk (pictured). Walking the boardwalk is fun, and a fun activity is to ride bicycles on the boardwalk during hours when it isn’t too crowded.

There are spots as busy as Morey’s Pier in Wildwood:

or as serene as the sound of waves crashing on the beach:

(Pictures taken from Webshots…clicking any will take you to other photos.)

I usually like to keep the posts upbeat on this blog, but crime is a reality, and maybe this is upbeat, because it’s about a mob bust right here in the Garden State.

According to what I’m hearing and seeing, 23 people have been indicted today, including a high-ranking member of the infamous Gambino crime family, Andrew Merola 41 (almost a baby boomer:-) of East Hanover, NJ, yep, less than an hour from here.

Charges include illegal gambling, extortion, racketeering, and more. 23 people were listed in the indictment. 10 were arrested today, and the others received summons for court appearance. They are all in some way associated with different Mafia groups.

Kudos to the New Jersey FBI for a job well done, another step in making New Jersey a safe place to lives.