Comments on: Posts from the Past: You Know You’re from Jersey if… http://foolishsage.com/2006/03/27/posts-from-the-past-you-know-youre-from-jersey-if/ The Sacred Journey of Mark Traphagen, the Foolish Sage Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:28:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Diana http://foolishsage.com/2006/03/27/posts-from-the-past-you-know-youre-from-jersey-if/comment-page-1/#comment-7312 Diana Sun, 09 Apr 2006 01:43:15 +0000 http://foolishsage.com/archives/2006/03/26/posts-from-the-past-you-know-youre-from-jersey-if/#comment-7312 I can't help myself. Even though I was born in Montana and started school on an Air Force base in Germany, New Jersey is my home. Toms River, to be exact, exits 80 and 81 on the Parkway (a.k.a., the Garden State). I lived at the Shore. I went to the beach. Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, Ortley, and Island Beach State Park was where I hung out every summer and winter. My mother has had the same phone number since 1966, but three area codes: 201, 908, now 732. There used to be only North Jersey (201) and South Jersey (609). The rule of the Jersey circle? Don't make eye contact. If you do, you're doomed. I remember when Great Adventure opened, safari park and all. I remember when Eatontown was THE place to shop...before the Monmouth County and Ocean County malls. The city meant New York. Philadelphia...that was a black and white movie with Katherine Hepburn. Senior Prom included the obligatory watching the sunrise on the beach. Bruce Springsteen played at the Stoned Pony in Asbury Park and my older brother and sister saw him there before he was famous. Classmates by the name of Testa, Sabatino, Mariano, Sorrentino...you get the picture. And don't forget the diners...Olga's at Route 70 and 73 being the Queen Mother. Ahh...I can smell the boardwalk pizza and french fries now... I can’t help myself. Even though I was born in Montana and started school on an Air Force base in Germany, New Jersey is my home. Toms River, to be exact, exits 80 and 81 on the Parkway (a.k.a., the Garden State).

I lived at the Shore. I went to the beach. Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, Ortley, and Island Beach State Park was where I hung out every summer and winter.

My mother has had the same phone number since 1966, but three area codes: 201, 908, now 732. There used to be only North Jersey (201) and South Jersey (609).

The rule of the Jersey circle? Don’t make eye contact. If you do, you’re doomed.

I remember when Great Adventure opened, safari park and all.

I remember when Eatontown was THE place to shop…before the Monmouth County and Ocean County malls.

The city meant New York. Philadelphia…that was a black and white movie with Katherine Hepburn.

Senior Prom included the obligatory watching the sunrise on the beach.

Bruce Springsteen played at the Stoned Pony in Asbury Park and my older brother and sister saw him there before he was famous.

Classmates by the name of Testa, Sabatino, Mariano, Sorrentino…you get the picture.

And don’t forget the diners…Olga’s at Route 70 and 73 being the Queen Mother.

Ahh…I can smell the boardwalk pizza and french fries now…

]]> By: Michelle http://foolishsage.com/2006/03/27/posts-from-the-past-you-know-youre-from-jersey-if/comment-page-1/#comment-7295 Michelle Sat, 08 Apr 2006 11:54:27 +0000 http://foolishsage.com/archives/2006/03/26/posts-from-the-past-you-know-youre-from-jersey-if/#comment-7295 you don't know me, my friend rachel from lookout mountain pres sent me this cause I am from NJ. read my blog in a couple of days... i am working on a little nj thing of my own you don’t know me, my friend rachel from lookout mountain pres sent me this cause I am from NJ. read my blog in a couple of days… i am working on a little nj thing of my own

]]> By: Mark Traphagen http://foolishsage.com/2006/03/27/posts-from-the-past-you-know-youre-from-jersey-if/comment-page-1/#comment-7269 Mark Traphagen Thu, 06 Apr 2006 03:59:57 +0000 http://foolishsage.com/archives/2006/03/26/posts-from-the-past-you-know-youre-from-jersey-if/#comment-7269 Ken, I'll have to call upon Denise and my other South Jersey readers to help you out. As has been pointed out to this North Jerseyite, the Southern NJ is a whole different state. Ken,

I’ll have to call upon Denise and my other South Jersey readers to help you out. As has been pointed out to this North Jerseyite, the Southern NJ is a whole different state.

]]> By: ken buck http://foolishsage.com/2006/03/27/posts-from-the-past-you-know-youre-from-jersey-if/comment-page-1/#comment-7268 ken buck Thu, 06 Apr 2006 03:40:10 +0000 http://foolishsage.com/archives/2006/03/26/posts-from-the-past-you-know-youre-from-jersey-if/#comment-7268 thanks for the tips as i am two months or less from moving into Collingswood, NJ.... it will take me any where from 40 to 90 minutes to get to school.... but lucky for me i will be attending part time so i will only have to make the treck for the next eight or so years!! any other tips for a transplant to south jersey? and will i get made fun of for using the word "yall" representing my southern roots? thanks for the tips as i am two months or less from moving into Collingswood, NJ…. it will take me any where from 40 to 90 minutes to get to school…. but lucky for me i will be attending part time so i will only have to make the treck for the next eight or so years!!

any other tips for a transplant to south jersey? and will i get made fun of for using the word “yall” representing my southern roots?

]]> By: Mark Traphagen http://foolishsage.com/2006/03/27/posts-from-the-past-you-know-youre-from-jersey-if/comment-page-1/#comment-7159 Mark Traphagen Wed, 29 Mar 2006 17:38:28 +0000 http://foolishsage.com/archives/2006/03/26/posts-from-the-past-you-know-youre-from-jersey-if/#comment-7159 <blockquote>I’ve obviously come upon a higher class of friends! So, _steve, should we take offense? ;) </blockquote> Err...I meant since leaving Mrs. Foster's third grade. Yeah. So you're included. Yep.

I’ve obviously come upon a higher class of friends!

So, _steve, should we take offense? ;)

Err…I meant since leaving Mrs. Foster’s third grade. Yeah. So you’re included. Yep.

]]> By: Geof F. Morris http://foolishsage.com/2006/03/27/posts-from-the-past-you-know-youre-from-jersey-if/comment-page-1/#comment-7158 Geof F. Morris Wed, 29 Mar 2006 16:56:40 +0000 http://foolishsage.com/archives/2006/03/26/posts-from-the-past-you-know-youre-from-jersey-if/#comment-7158 <blockquote>I’ve obviously come upon a higher class of friends!</blockquote> So, _steve, should we take offense? ;)

I’ve obviously come upon a higher class of friends!

So, _steve, should we take offense? ;)

]]> By: Mark Traphagen http://foolishsage.com/2006/03/27/posts-from-the-past-you-know-youre-from-jersey-if/comment-page-1/#comment-7133 Mark Traphagen Tue, 28 Mar 2006 22:14:44 +0000 http://foolishsage.com/archives/2006/03/26/posts-from-the-past-you-know-youre-from-jersey-if/#comment-7133 I'm speechless. Two years ago this post received no comments. Now I get original poetry. I've obviously come upon a higher class of friends! I’m speechless.

Two years ago this post received no comments.

Now I get original poetry.

I’ve obviously come upon a higher class of friends!

]]> By: john Eddy http://foolishsage.com/2006/03/27/posts-from-the-past-you-know-youre-from-jersey-if/comment-page-1/#comment-7125 john Eddy Tue, 28 Mar 2006 21:49:56 +0000 http://foolishsage.com/archives/2006/03/26/posts-from-the-past-you-know-youre-from-jersey-if/#comment-7125 yeah- Those of us from the northeast who have, perhaps, a less informed heart for Joyzey find ourselves asking that question of anyone we meet who lives in the Garden State. so often, in fact, that I think the question has become a standard joke. To many of us, New Jersey IS "THE TURNPIKE". For me, however, this position is softened greatly due to the,expression of divine love and goodness, the foretaste of the heavenly feast— proof, like beer, that God loves us and wants us to be happy — those bushels of edible sunshine that are trucked out of the state each July and August… Jersey Corn. ODE ON A TURNPIKE COLD FRONT The virga drops its crystal tears, to slake the thirst of yellow ears wrapped in silk and summer green Beyond the shoulder where are seen, in fields of optic lines arrayed horizonward — what God hath made, in August born, the husked horns of Jersey corn. yeah-
Those of us from the northeast who have, perhaps, a less informed heart for Joyzey find ourselves asking that question of anyone we meet who lives in the Garden State. so often, in fact, that I think the question has become a standard joke. To many of us, New Jersey IS “THE TURNPIKE”.

For me, however, this position is softened greatly due to the,expression of divine love and goodness, the foretaste of the heavenly feast— proof, like beer, that God loves us and wants us to be happy — those bushels of edible sunshine that are trucked out of the state each July and August… Jersey Corn.

ODE ON A TURNPIKE COLD FRONT

The virga drops its crystal tears,
to slake the thirst of yellow ears
wrapped in silk and summer green
Beyond the shoulder where are seen,
in fields of optic lines arrayed
horizonward — what God hath made, in August born,
the husked horns of Jersey corn.

]]> By: Mark Traphagen http://foolishsage.com/2006/03/27/posts-from-the-past-you-know-youre-from-jersey-if/comment-page-1/#comment-7121 Mark Traphagen Tue, 28 Mar 2006 14:47:18 +0000 http://foolishsage.com/archives/2006/03/26/posts-from-the-past-you-know-youre-from-jersey-if/#comment-7121 :slaps head: Duh! Of course, Denise. I remember that now. We lived too far from the Turnpike to use that expression regularly, but I do remember people asking that. :slaps head: Duh! Of course, Denise. I remember that now. We lived too far from the Turnpike to use that expression regularly, but I do remember people asking that.

]]> By: Denise http://foolishsage.com/2006/03/27/posts-from-the-past-you-know-youre-from-jersey-if/comment-page-1/#comment-7120 Denise Tue, 28 Mar 2006 14:42:07 +0000 http://foolishsage.com/archives/2006/03/26/posts-from-the-past-you-know-youre-from-jersey-if/#comment-7120 Apparently, this is a common question to ask...that Jersey-ites know where they live only by which exit from the turnpike. I have no idea which exit. 3 or 4 I think? Either way, it's still a hike from there to the Pinelands. And besides, why take the turnpike when 295 runs parallel, for FREE?? (at least in South Jersey) Apparently, this is a common question to ask…that Jersey-ites know where they live only by which exit from the turnpike. I have no idea which exit. 3 or 4 I think? Either way, it’s still a hike from there to the Pinelands. And besides, why take the turnpike when 295 runs parallel, for FREE?? (at least in South Jersey)

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