THE BEST OCEAN CITY NEW JERSEY HOUR, I HAVE EVER SPENT WITH MY DAD
IT WAS A HOT SEPTEMBER DAY IN 1999, OCEAN CITY NEW JERSEY…
The sun blazed down upon my father’s classic jersey shore awning, striped, canvas, hanging over his porch, it shaded the front of his home in the Garden’s (a beautiful residential neighborhood on the northern tip of OCNJ) neighborhood. Looking left at the end of the street I knew that the clean white sands of Longport Beach, and my favorite view in the world awaited. That’s when it hit me.
I noticed my skinny and tanned dad, George, up a ladder, shirtless, in old blue swim shorts and tattered tennis sneakers. He was never one for extravagance. He was painting, sweating, and baking, in the rays of sunshine that attacked the aluminum ladder and wood siding with impunity.
I called up the rungs. “Hey dad. Go get your swimsuit on, let’s go swim.” He thought for a second, climbed down, threw his painting equipment aside, and did just that. Once he was suited up, we headed to Longport Beach at the end of the road. Our feet pounded the hot sidewalk of ‘The Gardens’ as we breathed in the heavy the fresh ocean air. Our anticipation grew as we could hear the surf get louder as we got closer.
SHOOBIE ANTICIPATION
As we neared the Longport Beach entrance at the end of his road, the salty breeze fully hit us. As two Philadelphia born Shoobies (a term originated in the late 1800s reference to day trippers who would take the train to the New Jersey beach – ticket and shoe box lunch in hand) our excitement levels rose in anticipation of the cool white crested waves crashing in 50 yards away.
We stopped as we walked out onto the sand, the vista ahead was breathtaking. It was late morning, the beach was empty (no tourists as it was September) and the tremendous blue expanse of sky, with gentle rolling cotton wool clouds, kissed the vast expanse of dark blue ocean below, white sparkles twinkled from wave crests, that surged up the beach in violent crashes of tidal foam.
Yes, crashed. That August, Long Beach Island in Ocean County, had experienced a 300 ft wide F2 Tornado. Wind gusts were estimated at 120 mph. 35 buildings were damaged, to a cost of $4.2 million.
One person was injured by flying glass. The tornado knocked down two transmission lines, leaving about 3,100 buildings without power. Moving over water, the tornado became a waterspout, eventually sinking a boat in Little Egg Harbor. We were catching the tail end.
THE OCEAN WAS ANGRY THAT DAY MY FRIENDS…
The ocean was very angry. Severe storms moving inland often create a storm surge, a long wave caused by high winds and a continued low-pressure area. Storm surges do not create a typical crashing wave but rather a massive rise in sea level upon reaching shore.
I don’t recommend or condone what we did next, but we did, and I’m forever glad. Without thinking twice, we ran together into the surf. We high stepped like football running backs on the 2-yard line, until we were waist high. Then our Shoobie body surfing senses kicked in.
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
We dunked and waited. Dark ocean mid chest high, we observed the chaotic incoming wave crests with delicious anticipation. As the wave orbits became more elliptical, we knew they were getting close. Like accomplished OCNJ body surfing champions, we expertly studied each rolling wave tube, watched them peak and focused in on the outside curling lip of the wave.
Timing is everything, and we dove upon the perfect lip curls as they rolled over and roared toward the beach crashing into a long swash of foam and shell particles up onto the sandy edge. We went stiff, hands in front like body surfing Superman with no cape – and in swim shorts.
You know you catch a wave just right. You hurtle on top of the waves energy with the cool saltwater engulfing your body. Like a car in a wind tunnel test, the ocean propels your being through the wash, in a zone of bliss to the shore. Sea foam bubbles and the disturbed shore bottom, fills the ears with a distinct muffled oceanic symphony.
You also know it was good by the distance it takes you and its violent intensity.
THE MOST INCREDIBLE WAVES I HAVE EXPERIENCED…EVER
These waves practically took us up onto the street, well, far up onto the sands edge. They were the most incredible OCNJ waves I have ever experienced to this day.
As we skidded up the sand, water swirled, and with sand shell scraped knees, we got back on our feet, and like a sea-soaked baby giraffe, stumbled into a run, high stepping back into the maelstrom for another go.
Time after time we did this. For at least an hour. We didn’t even notice time going by. We were living 100% in the moment, father and son, in their favorite place in the world, enjoying something we loved, together.
The world outside didn’t matter, and we didn’t give a damn about caution or the larger world.
At one point as we rode a particularly nasty wave up onto shore, I glanced to my right. My dad was along side me, in unison, like a race of generations. We crashed to the shore together, got up, and laughed hysterically.
I can still see him wiping the thick black hair form his face, his drenched mustache, my hero, my dad, big white smile. And he was all mine, this moment was all ours. Little did I know it at the time, but this would become the best Ocean City hour with my dad ever.
EXHAUSTED OFF OUR FEET
We eventually decided we were totally physically exhausted. I can still hear the distant crash of surf as we neared the beach exit slowly, feet sinking in the lush sand, now much quieter.
As we headed back to the house, the sun did not feel quite as hot, as we were cool and refreshed. Our legs wobbled, our knees and elbows were scratched, our sinuses completely saltwater cleared, we felt fantastic.
As I held his hand 9 years later, my dad was taken from me by Cancer at the age of 64. He was not perfect, he had his faults like anyone does, worked damn hard to provide for us, and was my best friend. Losing him so sudden destroyed me for a long time. I miss him EVERY day.
Now I look back and smile, especially when I’m Ocean City body surfing with my boys and grandchildren. That moment with my dad was given to me, almost as if the higher power knew and wanted me to have this moment forever.
YOU WILL BE HANDED MOMENTS IN TIME, DON’T MISS THEM
Sure, it was reckless, kind of dangerous, not recommended. Yes, you should always swim and or body surf between the Lifeguard flags for safety against undertow. However, I don’t regret for one second that afternoon in the chaotic post storm swells on Longport beach.
In life, you will be handed moments of time, with loved ones. Don’t miss them. If you feel it, go with it, immerse with that loved one for however long it takes. That my friend is what life is all about.
I love you dad. I know you are with me always, especially when we catch that completely bonkers wave up onto the glorious OCNJ shoreline, I look over and I see you there, smiling, laughing, alive forever.
See you at the next roll call.
Shift dismissed.