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Post by Al Alven on Mar 16, 2005 12:39:55 GMT -5
What is your stangest Wildwoods memory?
For me, it just may have been last September 21st, a midweek night where I found myself on a chilly, nearly deserted Boardwalk at around 10 p.m.
I had gone down that day to take a few last pics of some great, soon-to-be-demolished Doo Wop Motels, like the Satellite, Carousel, Tahiti, Dunes, Silver Dollar, etc...
Anyway I found myself on the Boardwalk, in search of a bite to eat before heading back up to Philly. Sure enough, Mack's was the only place open. I grabbed a slice juuuuuuust as the two kids working there were preparing to close for the night.
I sat on one of the Boardwalk benches to eat, facing the ocean. As I looked up and over at the darkened, slumbering Giant Ferris Wheel at Mariner's Landing, I realized how haunting the whole scene was.
There was no one else on the Boardwalk, save for a few teenage kids trying out some trick moves on their bikes, and a freaky lookin' guy who had just closed up the Oxygen tatoo place next to Mack's, on the corner at Wildwood Ave.
Such a weird scene. I had never been on the Boardwalk at that time of year, at that time of night. If you think it's eerie during the day in the winter, you should try the night time!
Anyway, for some bizarre reason, the kids closing up Mack's decided to start blarring some music as they were sweeping up. Cool, I thought. Why not? No one's around, no one to disturb. Crank it up.
I can't remember what they were playing at first, some alternative stuff. But, then, the music stopped. And started again... BING CROSBY'S "WHITE CHRISTMAS"!!!
And when I say they were blarring it, I mean they were BLARRING IT! How bizarre it was, not just sitting there on the deserted Wildwood Boardwalk on a chilly, late September evening, but to have "I'm dreaming... of a White... Christmas" blarring, as I surveyed the boards, the sleeping amusement piers and the beach and surf, some half mile to the east.
A surreal scene to be sure, and one that I will never forget.
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Post by phillyrabbit on Mar 16, 2005 13:01:06 GMT -5
Nice story Al. I guess for me, it was looking at a girl by where the old merry go round used to be. That old merry go round, I used to look forward to seeing it every summer. The beautiful hand painted differen't animals and the organ music blasting out into the boardwalk. Anyway, I was about 17 I guess, and a girl about my age was standing near me by herself eating ice cream. I looked at her and thought she was the prettiest thing I ever saw. She had long brown hair, blue eyes, and was wearing a white sleveless top with brown shorts. Like a dope, I never said a word to her and she finally left and dissapeared into the boardwalk crowd with her friend who was finished riding the go round.
I'm 60 years old and to this day, I still remember her and I often wonder what would have happened if I had only opened my mouth and said hi.
Well, I guess she's better off I never did......LOL ;D
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Post by Al Alven on Mar 16, 2005 13:17:12 GMT -5
That's a great memory, phillyrabbit, very haunting in its own way...
Isn't it amazing how moments like that not only stick with us, but can be looked back upon as pivotal junctures in our lives?
Your life could have gone in one million different directions, had you taken a simple action. You may have been better off or worse for it, but you'll never know.
As I sit here typing this at work, I am neglecting other things that I should be doing. ;D Who knows how many people (and in what way) I am indirectly affecting because of it.
But, not to get too far off base, that's another reason why I love the Wildwoods. It has been a place that has helped define me, a place that has long served as crossroads juncture to so many.
We hold memories like the one you shared so dear. We don't know why, sometimes, but we do. In a weird way, I guess that girl and that moment in your life will always be a huge part of you.
Funny, isn't it? That a moment so subtle, so fleeting, could have such a profound impact on your entire life...
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Post by AnthonyV on Mar 16, 2005 14:30:05 GMT -5
IMO, that's beyond simple to answer:
Seeing cheaply built, overpriced condos rising where classic mid-century motels once sat for decades.
Is there and can there actually be anything more haunting, or to a lesser extent "strange," than that?
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Post by Al Alven on Mar 16, 2005 14:35:44 GMT -5
No, there can't.
Sadly, you're right, Anthony.
In early February, I stood on the corner of 26th and Surf... literally stood on the site where the great Packard Motel used to be.
It was so surreal, so strange, so... wrong.
I was always more of a North Wildwood and Wildwood guy growing up. We would venture into the Crest, but not as much. So, most of what I know about the Crest has been formulated over the past few years.
I cannot grasp what it must be like for someone like you, someone who literally grew up on that part of the island. To digest all that has changed, well, it must be truly impossible.
And, as you say, the ultimate in "strange."
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Post by FlyinGN on Mar 16, 2005 16:53:58 GMT -5
strange how important that memory for Phillyrabbit that was. He even remembered what she was wearing! Amazing.. One of my more fondest memories.. Hmmm it depends... early in like it was the memories of my childhood years.. My family and the great monories we made. Not one thought in particular.. A buncha thoughts.. Then later in my teenage years. The crazy times we had drinking and partying.. The things I hope my Son never does.. lol.. The rites of manhood .. sort of speak.. They were fond memories.. and now.. I think these are my fondest.. Watching my family and Son smile and laugh with the amazement that we call Wildwood.. And I keep telling my Son that what he is experiencing now may not *seem* important at the time.. But later in life.. he will find out how important they really were. I tell him to take it all in. Enjoy everything.. And we take pictures.. lots of em...  |
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Post by crazyaboutwildwood on Mar 16, 2005 21:32:47 GMT -5
One memory for me was I was about 14 years old and we were at macks pizza on the second floor looking out the window ,eating pizza with mom and dad, 2 brothers and sister, and me and my 2 brothers were looking over at mariners landing wacthing the sea serpents 1st year (1984). We were in disbelief!!! We never seen a coaster like that!!! I still remember to this day we were looking at this coaster like it was from another world or somthing! Then as time went by more of these new type coasters starting popping up all over the country, but not for some time! When the moreys introduced the sea serpent (Vekoma boomerang) they were really ahead of the times!!!!!
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Post by upsygrad on Mar 17, 2005 20:52:52 GMT -5
Well, I have a very odd story.
My family and I love the Cape May Zoo and we wind up there just about every year.
About 6 or 7 years ago, we were at the zoo, out there by the giraffes and I turned around and I swear I saw Ozzy Osbourne!
I know how crazy that sounds, but... he was with three kids, two girls and a boy, it looked just like him down to the last tattoo and he was performing in Camden at the Tweeter Center that weekend. I did some Ozzy research and I read somewhere that he likes zoos.
I had a camera, but the event was so jaw dropping for me that I didn't use it.
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Post by FlyinGN on Mar 17, 2005 22:30:48 GMT -5
ROTFLMAO.. Did he seem lost and disoriented ;D? If so that was prolly him LOL
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nyjay
Junior Member
Posts: 59
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Post by nyjay on Mar 17, 2005 22:50:58 GMT -5
I have so many memories of Wildwood. I agree with the first post about the desserted boards. We went down at the end of April last year for the day. It was the middle of the day on a beautiful spring day and there was only a handful of people. It was such a stark contrast to those "wildwood nights" where you can hardly move. Everything was so quiet and eerie. Most of the shops were closed. A few shops and games were opened. We stopped in to Sorrento IV I believe for a slice. There were a few stores that were open, we managed to get a few shirts and sweatshirts CHEAP, must have been the years before. I think we got some sweatshirts for 2 for 3 or something, normally they were like 10 dollars. One of the game guys gave us some pointers on how to win his game, the one where you have to throw the softball in to the big bucket without it bouncing out. It was a great day. I am thinking about doing it again. Gives you a chance to enjoy the boards without all those people.
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Post by Al Alven on Mar 18, 2005 11:14:59 GMT -5
Well, I have a very odd story. My family and I love the Cape May Zoo and we wind up there just about every year. About 6 or 7 years ago, we were at the zoo, out there by the giraffes and I turned around and I swear I saw Ozzy Osbourne! I know how crazy that sounds, but... he was with three kids, two girls and a boy, it looked just like him down to the last tattoo and he was performing in Camden at the Tweeter Center that weekend. I did some Ozzy research and I read somewhere that he likes zoos. I had a camera, but the event was so jaw dropping for me that I didn't use it. Was it around lunchtime? Perhaps he was looking for the vampire bat exhibit. ;D |
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Post by wildwoodjms on Mar 19, 2005 6:45:15 GMT -5
wow al, this is going to fill up many pages of posts! How fun is this going to be to keep up with.
Lets see, i have almost 40 years of wildwood in my memory, so two strangest have to be this past October when we went for the weekend. Anything that was opened was selling everything half off. Great time to shop at Douglass Fudge.
The weather was not that bad, so i took a walk on the beach. It was so peaceful. So beautiful.
Walking along on the boardwalk can only be described as quiet. Next to no seagulls! So many years, i have wanted to see what happens on the boardwalk in the late fall. Quiet was never a word that I would use to describe wildwood, but none the less, added to its charm. For me, it does not matter the time of year, it is wildwood!
My other classic memory from a few years ago, was one evening, as my family was walking along the boardwalk on a very crowded, very loud night, my son had just won a big prize on the boardwalk. The tram car was coming, no one heard it and he ended up getting grazed by the tram car. Nothing serious, he was ok. He was more upset by all the attention he was getting. For Christmas this year, I bought him the Toy Tram Car so he will be able to tell his children one day of his adventure!
Wildwoodjms
Michigan girl
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Post by wildwanderer on Mar 24, 2005 20:06:03 GMT -5
My strangest memory happened last September when my husband and I came across the Rio Grande Bridge into Wildwood and came across that first red light and I always make a right to the crest. As I went into that lane I didn't recognize the corner anymore. SAD.  |
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Post by novacancy on Apr 1, 2005 18:40:30 GMT -5
Freedom. Even as a really young child, we would arrive at our motel in Wildwood Crest and be "turned loose." Not doing anything bad...just able to roam about, ride our bikes, explore...something kids today don't get enough of  . My brother and I would set out on "adventures" like seeing what the neighboring motels had in their vending machines! We would walk around for hours just looking at the beach, the motels, and the boardwalk when we were older. My parents must have enjoyed this break. Geez, now that I am a parent with 3 kids...I long for a place where I could feel free to let my kids explore. I guess this isn't a strange memory really. I guess my strangest memory would be of a large shark that washed ahsore. |
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Post by FlyinGN on Apr 1, 2005 20:48:36 GMT -5
so true Nova.. My sister and I did the same thing,. Today that kind of stuff cannot be done by kids.. Too many weridos...  Frank |
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. My brother and I would set out on "adventures" like seeing what the neighboring motels had in their vending machines! We would walk around for hours just looking at the beach, the motels, and the boardwalk when we were older. My parents must have enjoyed this break. Geez, now that I am a parent with 3 kids...I long for a place where I could feel free to let my kids explore. I guess this isn't a strange memory really. I guess my strangest memory would be of a large shark that washed ahsore.