Summer in Cape May, New Jersey

As cliché as it might sound, my favorite thing to do during the summer months is spend every waking moment by the shore - the Jersey shore to be exact, and I've been doing this well before MTV and The Situation went on his Sea Isle conquests with Pauly D, and before Snookie got punched in the face by some belligerent Jersey drunk. I'm referring to the laid-back, good times had with my buddies before graduating from college in Center City, Philadelphia.

It's about 4:30pm. We toss our bags in Donny's car and jump onto I-76 east and its famously bad traffic on our way to Cape May, New Jersey. It's a small, cozy little shore town at the southernmost tip of the state. Cape May is the kind of place that feels like everybody knows each other. In the center of town lies a large gazebo and park area with the town courthouse and small cafes and locally owned shops spiraling outward from it. On a summer night it is the iconic American town with a band playing in the town square and families walking about in and out of candy shops.

After a two hour drive, we are finally there. Before leaving Philly we picked up burgers, brats, and grabbed some beer from the local distributor (it was always cheaper in the city). When we got into town, we stopped at a convenience store to pick up any little things we were missing when we came across the wiffle ball set, and everybody knows that no barbecue is complete without a wiffle ball game.

We pull up to Donny's shore house that has been in his family for nearly 80 years and the night begins. It's a humble Victorian two story house with white siding and a small picket fence wrapping the front garden. We park on the side yard. We crack open some beers, start up the grill, and break out the wiffle ball for some home run derby time, and the rest of the night is spent with a Yuengling in one hand and a bright yellow bat in the other.

The next day is spent throwing the football on the secluded beach frequented only by the local families and their friends. That night we make the five 10 minute drive to Wildwood for the boardwalk and bars. And, that is how the rest of the summer is spent; hanging out on the beach with friends during the day and spending time with those same friends and family at night around the grill. Boy, do I miss those days.