A Different Kind Of Holiday

Nobody can predict the weather in advance. So with that in mind, I ventured down to the Long Branch Promenade on Independence Day, hoping the weather gods would be wrong, the rain would hold up, and Oceanfest would commence in all its glory. 

I had gone to practically every single Oceanfest celebration since the city began having them; that is, with the exception of when we were away at one of my daughter’s dance competitions or when my son was in the hospital in 1995. I wasn’t about to let a little rain spoil my stellar attendance record. 

Things were looking good at around 10AM when I arrived. Even though there was a sort of glum wetness all around from the previous night’s rain, it looked promising that the festivities would continue on.  The vendors were all waiting in their cars, looking for just the right moment to put up their canopies and begin selling their wares. 

Unfortunately, around 11:15, the inevitable happened. First it was little drops, followed by a steady downpour. Luckily for me, I was standing right behind the Ocean Place Resort & Spa when it got heavy, so I scurried under one of the building’s overhangs, hoping I would only be there for a few moments until the rain would pass. 

I waited. . .and waited. . .and waited. Finally, I began walking towards the Windmill parking lot in North Long Branch, the designated spot where my wife would come pick me up if the weather got bad. I got to the front door and called my wife. “It’s over”, I told her. “Time to come pick me up. Do you want to go to Richard’s Deli for lunch?” 

“Oh sorry, but your son and I just got finished with brunch at Perkin’s. But we can sit with you and talk.” 

Not that there was much to talk about. No one was on the beaches. There was hardly anyone at Oceanfest, although I did manage to confirm dinner with a friend for the following Wednesday at The Sitting Duck. 

I was bummed. Oceanfest a bust this year? 

But when I got home, I remembered that there were a few things to do around the house that I never got around to doing during the week. I paid some bills, went to the post office and mailed them, balanced our family’s budget, vacuumed the rugs, got gas in one of our cars, and helped out in general around the house. Although it wasn’t exactly what I wanted to do on that particular day, it was productive nonetheless. 

So the day wasn’t exactly a bust after all. From what I heard, the boardwalk got re-populated again after the rain stopped around 3PM, and the vendors (especially the food vendors) made some money after all. 

I guess every once in a while, it’s good to live with controlled turmoil rather than stick to your original plans. 

(The entire Jersey Shore Retro Blogography can be found at http://longbranch.patch.com/blogs/kevin-cieris-blog .You can also follow Kevin Cieri's blog on Twitter @jsretro).