Maryanne Christiano-MistrettaBeachy keen by day, carousel by night, and the Judy Blume rest stop!
Posing with my turtle sand sculpture! He’s awkward, but cute!
Hello little guy!
Judy Blume rest stop
The rest stops on the Garden State Parkway are named after prominent people who lived in New Jersey. Yesterday was the first time we visited the Judy Blume one. Earlier this year I was on a Judy Blume kick, re-reading her books I loved as a kid. I was ecstatic to be here. Back in March I covered a book talk by Mark Oppenheimer at Word Bookstore in Maplewood. He penned a bio on Judy Blume called “A Life.” You can read more here: https://essexnewsdaily.com/arts/author-of-judy-blume-book-gives-talk-at-bookstore-in-maplewood/
Judy Blume was known for her realism in writing for young adults. And as a young adult in the 1970s, and as much as I loved her books, I must say I also loved horror books like “Carrie” and science fiction like “Planet of the Apes” (the book takes place in France, unlike the USA as the movie does) and “Planet of the Blind” and many comic books.
Blume’s books were controversial at the time, talking to kids about hard-ons and menstruation. But these were the things we wanted to hear. Some things just couldn’t be discussed with parents. My mom told me about menstruation two years before I got my period. Like “Margaret” in Blume’s book, “Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret?” I couldn’t wait! It meant I was growing up.
As for hard-ons, I remember asking my mom, “What does it mean when a guy’s dick goes up?”
Her answer, “That’s called a hard on. Stay away from him and don’t let him touch your titties.”
See what I mean? Ask a grown up a simple question and that’s the answer you get. Judy Blume gave kids answers via her fictional stories.
Judy Blume = a Jersey girl!
A beautiful restored carousel, in the Carousel Museum in Seaside Heights
This is something to be seen! Even the tickets were everything. I’d say this carousel is the heart and soul of Seaside Heights.
I found this fascinating blog about it: https://visitingamuseum.com/2024/07/23/seaside-heights-historical-society-1400-boardwalk-seaside-heights-nj-08751/
62 and a half, and still a kid!
My husband horsing around!
And now for a self-care week ahead — therapy, acupuncture, a much needed haircut, and regular dental cleaning so I can keep smiling.
#beach #beautifulLifeOver60 #birds #books #carousel #carouselMuseumInSeasideHeights #fiction #happiness #inspiration #jerseyShore #judyBlume #judyBlumeRestStop #lifeOver60 #maryanneChristianoMistretta #movitation #NewJersey #reading #seasideHeights #shore #springLake #writing
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