Sandy

This is a song from Bruce Springsteen. You can’t get any more New Jersey than The Boss. New Jersey is my home state and I am very proud of it.

The name of this song is 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) and it’s from the 1973 album The Wild, The Innocent and The E Street Shuffle. It was released when I was in the prime of my life and very much in love with my NJ girl. We spent our summers on Long Beach Island, down the shore. Sandy has been one of my favorites since it hit the airwaves. It’s a very melodic tune. For nearly forty years, it’s conjured up wonderful memories of times spent along the Jersey shore. Sadly, I must add something painful to those memories in the aftermath of the hurricane with the same name that devastated my state. My heart aches tremendously.

This particular video showcases Danny Federici on the accordion. Danny died of melanoma on April 17, 2008. It was his final performance, when he briefly appeared with his E Street Band band mates onstage at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on March 20. Danny was from my hometown of Flemington and we both graduated from Hunterdon Central High School.

Here’s to all my friends and relatives in New Jersey, whom I love very much. I have family and friends in New York City and Westchester County, New York. I have a very special friend in Pennsylvania. Most are still without power. My thoughts and prayers are with each and every one of you.

Cross posted on the Daily Kos

Comments

[Cindy Edenfield]

Dave, My son-in-law was in a group called Squad Five-O (you can google them if you would like) and his drummer was this kid from Elizabeth, New Jersey named Adam. His dad lived in the same neighborhood as "The Boss' and they started a little band in the garage of their house. Finally when "The Boss" decided to go out on tour, Adam's dad's father would not let him go. He had to stay in school. I wonder how they feel now. I will say Adam is one great drummer. Have a good day and keep on writing. I just love it.

[That's an interesting story, Cindy, and so they say... the rest is history! Another thing that's said is that it's never too late! I'm amazed at the stamina of musicians, though, especially drummers. some look half-dead until they put those drumsticks to work. Remember Ginger Baker?

Thank you very much. I'm more than happy you love my writing. It's exhilarating!

[SnoopySleuth]

Here is a link to 79 pictures of the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. The photography is amazing and what you will view seems so unreal ...(thanks, Charles for sending these to me)

'Superstorm' Sandy damage widespread and severe

[Thanks for the link to those photos, Snoopy. That's only a small part of the overall destruction. It was a complete horror.]

[Sarah]

Point taken? Point proven?

Let me know.

This is sad. Very sad.

[I don't know what you mean by your two questions, Sarah, so I can't answer.

Yes, it's very sad, indeed.]

[ritanita]

Dave, I was fortunate to miss the worst effects of Sandy as I live on the southern edge of the storm.

As a Jersey Girl, I have lots of friends and family there and have been monitoring their situations 24/7. They all are pretty well inland, but will not have electricity for a while. I worry so much about how they are doing, as a number of them are elderly.

Meanwhile, I'm horrified with the destruction. I think about the great times we had in Belmar, Asbury Park, Atlantic City, and other shore communities.

Oh, those days at Seaside! I remember the boardwalk by day and by night as a child and a young adult. All gone!

I could say more, but it is way too upsetting at this point.

[Good for you, ritanita. I'm glad it missed you.

Ahhhhh... a Jersey girl! Nothing finer! My friend Frank lives just southeast of Camden and he never lost power. Got a lot of wind and rain, though, so he was lucky.

I can't believe the destruction. I was more of an LBI kind of guy, but I went to Seaside. More like Lavallette. I dated a girl from there once. Well, her family had a house there. All of those communities were known to me. I've bicycled through Asbury Park and gambled in Atlantic City. Down the shore. Over and under the boardwalk.

I could say more, too, but it hurts. Thanks, your words are very endearing to me.]

[Tommy's Mom]

Picture 37 in that group shows a double rainbow. In the Book God shows a rainbow in the sky after the flood as a sign He will never again destroy the world by flood. Perhaps this double bow is given as reinforcement to that promise.

I will continue to keep all of the Eastern coast in prayers.

[john]

the top half of the state got slaughtered
the bottom half fared well i prepared for the worst although i honestly don't know what that is considering what happened in the North.
i don't think there is any adequate preparation you can do, to prepare you for what actually happened.
I just am thankfully i am not in the same situation.

[Sorry for the inconvenience, john. There is an occasional loose cannon showing up and when I'm out and about, I can't police them. Until I return, comments have to be moderated and await my approval.

One of my best friends lives in south Jersey and he never lost power. Friends in Flemington, my hometown, didn't get power until Saturday. A friend in northern PA got it back yesterday. It must have been the outer bands that reached north of where the eye hit that did the most damage in the state. New York City sure did get hit.

I'm glad you were safe and sound. I don't know what you can do to prepare yourself for the worst, either, other than to make sure there's plenty of food and water handy, plus lights and batteries. Other than that, evacuate, but where do you go when you don't know what's going to get hit the worst?]