Snap, snap, snap go my clothes hangers. Blue. “No”, Purple. “No”, Peach, “No. I need white, not beige, not white with stripes, white.”

Found it. A 1940’s-inspired white linen shorts and button-down top not touched in 3 years and still perfectly pressed. White linen, a straw hat, Ecco Bella Merlot Lipstick, a few swirls of our natural black mascara and I am good to go on this 90 degree day.

When you are born, your family hangs a sign around your neck that states what you are; then they hand you instructions that tell you what to do about it. If you are like me,  you go along with the traditions. Sometimes, I do it because I wish to honor my parents and their parents and theirs….and other times because I like to do it.

I was invited to the annual Friday night Jewish Sabbath worship service on the beach. Wear white, I was told. Meet at the temple in Elberon, New Jersey and we will walk to the beach with our chairs. Afterwards, back at the temple, there will be a barbeque. “You’ll like it” my mother implored, “The Rabbi brings his guitar and sings.”  “OK.” I said, “I will leave Ecco Bella early and be there.”

I arrived at the temple at 5:30 p.m. as instructed, just in time to say hello to Rabbi Stanway, who in his white shorts and with guitar hanging around his neck, called out, “Shabbat Shalom.” to me and my husband, Kevin and then marched off down the wide, beautifully landscaped street to the beach with everyone following.
I went inside the temple to ask about the barbeque. Being 99% vegan, and a Boardmember of Friends of Animals, I do not trust the word, barbeque. I feel sad that my fellow humans have parties that revolve around the prior harm to animals.  Once awakened I am certain many people would not want to participate, either.

The kind people inside the temple said, “Don’t worry we have others just like you, and there will be portabello burgers.” “Perfect, I said.” Knowing I would be fed later, I too, marched off down the street to the beach, husband alongside, meeting my parents along the way.

We joined the long stream of people, headed for the beach, and I, feeling the peace and unity of the moment, deeply appreciated having said yes.

As we neared the ocean, turning past lovely, manicured houses nestled side by side like shorebirds at the edge of the embankment, the heat fell away and the wind took over.

The early evening light, transformed the landscape, featuring in turn, humans then sea grass, and ocean and lastly, seagulls, another flock of worshippers at the water’s edge.

The Atlantic ocean set a glorious and watery stage for us. The photo below is of my parents, Jack and Max with me in the middle, and as we say at the Jersey Shore, “This is the best time of day.”

Please enjoy the video that I made for you so that you could savor the moment too.

Rabbi Stanway said. “Take a moment to reflect in silence.”

No one knows what another prays for, but I’ll share. I prayed in gratitude for my good fortune in having been able to participate in a service rooted in history that took place in the natural beauty of my home state of New Jersey.

Talk to you soon! Sally

I opened up my email to find these photos of natural beauties posing on the beach in Belmar,  New Jersey, a place I used to love to visit in the summer. In fact, on some lucky Sundays as a youngster, I would wander into the bathroom where my father was shaving and he would say in his deep voice way above my head, “We’re going to Belmar, today.”  This would unleash pandemonium in our small apartment. My feet would start jumping and I would leap into the air like a Mexican jumping bean and jump, not walk, to tell my sister, Kim, who once notified of the news, would also start jumping all around the apartment in anticipation of going to Belmar.  In fact, we never stopped jumping. We even jumped in and out of the waves and sand all day.

Leaving my reverie and getting back to the present; the photos are from my friends at Clean Ocean Action, a group that protects New Jersey’s beaches.  A lucky person had both a good camera and a good eye that produced these photos.

I looked up Least terns on the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife site and found that they are an endangered species. And I learned this: “Least terns produce several calls, more musical and high pitched than other terns,and described variously as kip, kip, kip or kit-kit-kit, and kid-ick, kid-ick, and also a rasping zr-e-e-e-p. Calls are often given in such rapid succession that two or three birds can sound like a large flock.”

Well, not only are they beautiful, they can sing. A talent I do not possess.Their parenting skills look quite good too. I never attempted to be a mother, but I am an adventerous aunt. My nieces and nephews are still alive after having gone on vacation with me numerous times.

I also admire their bright yellow beaks and jet black heads…. as they snuggle into the sand.Good luck little buddy. You can count on me to do everything in my power to protect and preserve your home and you. After all, I still jump for joy over the natural beauty of all living beings. How about all you natural beauties, will you do the same?

When you take a break from a campaign (the gulf) and business Ecco Bella,  you also give the campaign and business, a break from yourself, much to the betterment of both. I took off for the weekend with my parents, husband, joined my aunt and uncle who planned this getaway to the Hudson River Valley. Have you been there?

We stayed at the Castle on the Hudson. The beds had perfect pillows, every brass doorknob gleamed, the pool was a glimmering jewel set amongst natural gardens, and the staff superb. At breakfast, as I was reading out loud, an article about the Old Growth Forest campaign (it never ends!) to my companions, our waiter stood to the side politely, until I finished.  Usually waitstaff rush in to take orders during jokes, stories, probably even marriage proposals.

Cold Spring was where we ate dinner. Riverview Restaurant  had lots of vegetarian choices.

I am so glad great estates like Boscobel were preserved. 

In the evening, outdoors on a great lawn, with the wetlands of the Hudson River and West Point in the background I experienced the most bubbling Shakespeare ever! Set to the music of Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, with actors in candy colored sixties costumes–it was Taming of the Shrew in it’s most hilarious and brilliant interpretation. In my exuberant childhoold, I danced to Herb Alpert all around my house for hours.

And my father said to me, ” Do you remember my taking you to St. John Terrell Music Circus  to see My Fair Lady, in Lambertville, NJ. ?” “Yes.” “You were three years old.”

During the day we visited the John Jay Homestead and gardens. Historic Preservation is a great way for towns to make money on upscale, intelligent tourism!

Brunch was at the Sweetgrass Grill in Tarrytown. I always enjoy regal local produce, which is their speciality. Then off to listen to music at Caramoor. I did what I was told, and was given tickets to Tiempo Libre a Cuban jazz group who loves J.S. Bach and the United States of America.

I admired this perfectly designed urn, at Caramoor’s luxurious gardens, and thought you would too.

Just before we came home we stopped at Sunnyside, Washington Irving’s home. He was the kind of uncle you’d love, because he allowed his five nieces to move in with him forever!

I hope you go!