Monday, August 3, 2009

Pizza on the Boardwalk with a friend


I had a lovely visit with a girlfriend I have known since -well maybe 5th or 7th grade; this weekend. I thought I had met her in 6th grade -but during our weekend reminiscences, she said we went to different schools in 6th grade-but same school district. We starting counting -we must have been at least 9 -six grade classes over four elementary schools . The following year we all met in a brand new Jr. High School (the first for our district). I wonder how many 1951 babies were in that 7th grade?

Our 40th HS reunion is in two weeks and I had gotten out all my year books out and Memory Books for past years. Marian is very excited, as am I. But I only met these classmates in 7th grade. I went to a different school, in a different state, until the middle of 5th grade. Consequently, I never met most of their parents -but my friend knew parents and siblings. I often wonder if my sister -who grew up from age 3 in this town- knew parents and siblings of her classmates?

I picked her up on Friday night at the Cape May Ferry from Lewes DE -I allowed for a good hour to get down to the cape of New Jersey. It was summer and lots of tourists were on the Parkway/Rt 47 and Rt 9- the only three ways thru Cape May County. I live at Exit 17 -It took an hour to go about 20 miles on the Parkway. From Cape May we went to Seaville and Dino's Diner for dinner :))

A quick stop at the ACME grocery store and home. She had been on the Ferry that encountered a storm while crossing the Delaware Bay. The boat was rockin! At home, we put on our jammies and just talked. We havent really visited in 8 years. She was with a nice man that loves to travel on his motorcycle, and she went on the back. But they recently are taking some breathing room. I am happy she was able to visit.

Saturday we went to Avalon. I went to my writers group at the Library and she walked Avalon. We met back at the Library and went out to lunch at the Puddgy Pelician -not impressed. But the company was good. Nothing like going out to lunch with five creative writers -who love to talk and tell stories!

Sat night we went to Ocean City ,NJ -parked at Jelly's at 12th st for $15.00 (the cheapest lot we found) Mack and Manko for the best THIN PIZZZA at the shore and walked the boards -well shopped just a little. I was looking for a pocketbook -nothing- and ended up with crystal bracelets. It was a little stinky -a lot of musscles had died and come in on the tide and the wind was blowing from the beach -soooo. Whew stinky.

Away from the smell, but still on the boards , we decided to stop and sit on an empty bench. Unusually , the boards were REALLY crowded this first Saturday of August. But as we sat down , about 10 teen age boys also claimed the long bench. They started sitting on the rails and back of the bench -facing out looking at the people (girls) ; the bench was long enough for all of us.

Me , being me, of course spoke to them. 'You can only share our bench if you are not rude and watch your language". SURPRISE, they LISTENED to me! One boy was saying something about a 'bitch' and the others reminded him. Marian and I smiled to ourselves. Then they were describing the young girls that walked by them as: "totally you could do her" or just "Hi" what are you doing out tonight?' in a more respectful tone. When Marian and I were ready to move -I asked the young men if i could take a picture of them for my blog. I told them to cover their faces if for any reasons they didnt want their faces shown. One young man said he wasnt comfortable with having his picture taken by a stranger and moved out of the picture. He was the 'ring-leader' for lack of a better word. So I had wanted him in the shot. But you know, I was really proud of him for listening to his little voice. That is what we teach our children to do to help keep them safe. Sad but necessary. The parents of these young men should be proud.



The next day, I cooked scranbled eggs -and did not burn them! Drove Marian down to the Ferry and then drove home on a Sunday afternoon -in all the traffic and a rain storm -It took
1 1/2 hours ,bumper to bumper, on RT 47.

She was almost across on the Ferry by the time I made it home and when we spoke -she said it was another stormy, rolling boat ride!

I am glad my friend came to visit -but she is a chain smoker, that wants to quit and we spoke of getting healthy and loosing weight.

She has always been a walker and somehow got off track these last few years. Maybe during this time out with her man -she will change up her life to where she wants and needs it to be. I hope so.

I love my friends and want them to take care of themselves. I had a nice visit.

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