My heart goes out to my Jersey Shore. Not the one that Snooki made famous. I’m talking about the peninsula between two rivers, the bay bridges that flew our flag after 9/11, the Stone Pony where my son’s band held court, the small businesses, the boardwalks and dunes, the beach clubs, the people. It’s the people, the friends I’ve made who knew me when, who are suffering now and I feel their loss.
In NJ we had to try and keep our kids inside on Mischief Night, the night before Halloween. It was not an easy task, if they wanted to teepee somebody’s tree or throw eggs on another’s car, chances are they managed to succeed. Sandy made mischief of that beautiful coastline with impunity. While watching CNN in Nashville on Nana duty this morning, I see that the Nashville Red Cross is sending volunteers to Tinton Falls, NJ – the same building where thousands stood in line on September 11th. I’ve talked and texted my way through. A tree missed a car by inches, the tide crept one house away. No one has power, no one. I’m thankful the Rocker and Ms Cait evacuated Asbury Park to my MIL’s house; I’m afraid of what they will find when they return today.
But as cabanas floated out to sea, and long generations of fishermen lost their boats, their homes and their livelihood, I was happy to hear that Gov Chris Christie called our President’s response to the storm “outstanding.” http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/10/30/christie-not-interested-in-photo-op/
“The president was great last night. He said he would get it done. At 2 a.m., I got a call from FEMA to answer a couple of final questions and then he signed the declaration this morning. So I have to give the president great credit. He’s been on the phone with me three times in the last 24 hours. He’s been very attentive, and anything that I’ve asked for, he’s gotten to me. So, I thank the president publicly for that. He’s done — as far as I’m concerned — a great job for New Jersey.”
That’s what Christie said on Mischief Night, yesterday. It’s mad to think of politics during a crisis like this. Sandy’s death toll is now up to 50, and with live wires down and gas lines disrupted, many residents are being urged to stay away a few more days. Sometimes, I feel as if we’re living in a nightmare of gigantic Climate Change proportions. And it doesn’t help that I’m reading “Cloud Atlas,” by David Mitchell http://www.reviewsofbooks.com/cloud_atlas/review/. It’s such a dystopian horror show, encompassing so many time periods, that every so often you think it actually could happen. That’s the trick of sci-fi, cut very close to the truth.
We are genetically altering our food, we can clone mammals, it’s just a few more steps to a Corpocracy – hey, with Citizens United, we’re already there. Today people are searching for an open gas station so they can run generators, if they have them. Tomorrow we may just need Soap so our fabricants can fall asleep. “Certainly the vacant disneyarium was a haunting frame for those lost rainy landscapes.”
So bring it on Halloween, just try and scare me now you sleep-deprived new parents!
MountainMornings 
Thanks, Chris, for sharing your experiences with us and your feelings about this tragedy. My thoughts and prayers go out to all affected. It hurts my heart, too, to see the devastation and to know the toll this takes, and will take. I lived through one bad hurricane here and know how surreal it all is, and then how fast it becomes the new normal. When you see people staring in disbelief at what was once their homes and neighborhoods, it’s hard to grasp. These types of tragedies also remove (or should remove) divisions in this country. One to one and heart to heart – that’s all that should matter. Thank you again for sharing.
Patti, you are so right! Hope you and yours are safe and sound. For us, in NY and NJ (and I still consider myself a Jersey Girl), when tragedy hits we rally, together.
It’s truly devastating. NYC is a mess. I can’t believe it. We had tickets for Weds. night but cancelled– no restaurants open. Hope to go tomorrow as situation above 39th street is improving. Below.. a disaster. Our power was restored about 2 am today.
I know, my sister is fine on E96 but my nephew is without power in the east village with wife and toddlerthey moved uptown to in-laws apt. So glad your power is back.