Glad to be back on line.

With a few days of bad weather during my time off, I had HOURS to watch HGTV.  My favorites? Property Brothers and Love It or List It.

So, before I order a Snuggie from a TV commercial…I better get back to work 🙂

Happy New (work) Year!

Year end review.

Thankfully, 2012 was a better year for those of us in the real estate business.  Sales and summer rentals improved over prior years. And, confidence in our seashore market has definitely returned.

Local retail and restaurant owners seemed pleased with the season; with one pizza shop guy even proclaiming it was his “best summer ever”.

Personally, I was fortunate to juggle a busy work schedule with a few great trips and family time.  And of course, walk on the beach, kayak, etc. on a regular basis!

Together, we faced the challenge of Sandy.  A stressful situation that ultimately united all Jersey shore residents and property owners.  I continue to be overwhelmed by the hardship of so many…yet moved by the stories of kindness.  How fortunate we are to resume our day to day lives.

So, on to 2013.  Renewed appreciation for our surroundings…renewed optimism for our island economy…and renewed enthusiasm for the year ahead.

Happy New Year!

It’s so windy that Santa (see my Christmas Eve post) threw himself onto the ground and asked to be relocated inside!  He will finish the holiday season looking out from the comfort of our front porch 😉

Spotted the dredge by the Townsends Inlet Bridge (moved in from the inlet during yesterday’s storm), and employees from the dredging company on 32nd Street preparing for the arrival of heavy duty equipment.

The beach fill (for both Avalon and Stone Harbor) was approved prior to Sandy. Good news for summer 2013!

Will post updates once the project is underway.

Santa– the life size painted, cut out version- has been an important part of Christmas for as long as I can remember.

Santa began his life of service in the early 1960’s at my parents’ first house in Avalon.  He was surrounded by big, multi-colored bulbs on the newly planted shrubs.  Inside that modest Golden Home rancher, 4 little girls hung their stockings on a cardboard fireplace with a plug in red bulb that magically turned the metal wheel to create “fire” .

In the 1970’s, Santa moved with our family 5 blocks south in Avalon to a larger, 2 story home with a real wood fireplace.  The colorful exterior lights were eventually replaced with more subtle white bulbs, but the spot light literally remained on Santa.

In the off season, Santa hung proudly on the garage wall- watching us all come and go.  Those little girls grew up and moved out, bringing back grandchildren for days on the beach.  In the 1980’s, my young sons were fascinated by Santa, and maybe a bit intimidated based on our attempts to use him for improved behavior!

When my parents downsized to a townhouse in the early 1990’s, my father asked if I wanted Santa for our home.  Of course, I was thrilled- and Santa didn’t complain as he was forced to leave Avalon and move “off shore”.

Santa loyally followed us on each move- knowing that he would be given a prominent position (with a flood light) at Christmas.   Several years ago, he gratefully moved back to the island to become a Stone Harbor resident!

Now approaching 50 years old, Santa is showing some signs of wear (aren’t we all).  I thought about asking an artist to do a “touch up”, but it just doesn’t seem right.   It’s good to remember that so much time has passed- it helps us to celebrate the journey.

Merry Christmas!

This entry was originally posted Christmas 2008. I think it deserves an annual repeat.

Celebrating our Christmas this weekend with family out of state…and again this week with our New Jersey family. Merry, merry!  🙂

Received an early Christmas present- Thanks, Mom 🙂

Looking forward to pinning them to my beach bag- a nice thought on a dreary December day…

When I have faced difficult situations, I noticed that others around me continued on with their normal life.  My world felt upside down.  How could day to day activities take place?

Yet, that’s exactly what we did after Sandy…and in the days since the awful events in Connecticut. I don’t believe it’s because we lack compassion- more that there is little we can do personally to change a tragedy.  In fact that helplessness weighs on us.  We want to help, but wonder how, or if our efforts would even be significant.

So I will hug my grandchildren later this week (ages 5 and 11), support a local charity with Sandy Relief, and pray for peace to replace sorrow…

P.S. One of my sisters posted this last night on Facebook.  It really touched me:

Our town has a tradition of driving Santa around the town on a firetruck. Tonight was that night – and although our “kids” are grown – we still go out on the porch as we hear the sirens approach – and wave to Santa. Tonight though I found myself crying – for all of the families who’s lives are forever changed due to the events that have happened over the recent weeks. Especially the families in Connecticut – my children are the ages of those young teachers. It is beyond heartbreaking.

Seems appropriate for the day…