“The blue crest of the distant mountain, tops,the green crest of the hill on which I sit; and it is summer, glorious, deep-toned summer,the very crown of nature’s changing year when all her surging life is at its full. To me alone it is a time of pause, a void and silent space between two worlds, when inspiration lags, and feeling sleeps, gathering strength for efforts yet to come.” ~Amy Lowell
It has been one of the hottest summers in New Jersey history even as August ushered in more moderate temperatures. This is a benefit for outdoor events still to come. The concert to benefit the Iron Matt Foundation, Franklin Lakes Day, the Wyckoff FD Fireworks, the Crystal Lake’s Bazaar, The Lions Club Circus, K of C Horseshoe Toss for the troops, and a host of other events are on the calendar.
Summer barbecues, summer reading, summer camps, and summer loves, are slowly winding down with September on the horizon. The days remain longer, the nights are even sweeter, and time still seems so abundant that one can believe that it does heal all wounds. But as school sales start, and some college freshmen are already unpacking in their dorms, the reality of obligations and real world concerns begin to descend again.
Before that, it’s worthwhile to remember, and hold on to, the memories of simple summer fun that carries riches unburdened by bigger concerns. Building castles in the sand, or being tossed by ocean waves. Watching a lingering sunset. The ease of letting ice cream cones drip while being eaten outside. Listening to the sounds of night critters through an open window. Chatting with neighbors while gardening in the yard. Evening strolls around the neighborhood. Canoe trips down the Delaware River, even the Ramapo River; and fishing choices all around. The rich taste of Jersey tomatoes and Jersey corn.
The summer season offered not only day trips, vacations and simple pleasures, but a psychological break from larger problems facing residents. Locally, municipalities continue to address their responses to a State budget which has made New Jersey the Jacob Marley of the nation. Like the fictional character from Charles Dickens, the State seems destined to carry around a chain constructed of debt as a warning to the rest of the nation. NJ representatives in Congress appear to also be failing residents. The State of New Jersey ranks last amongst states in relation to federal dollars returned to the state. According to 2005 statistics, New Jersey was ranked 50th in terms of Federal spending received in relation to taxes paid.
The Federal taxes paid by New Jersey residents is spread across the nation making it more difficult to balance a State budget, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. It’s a piece not often addressed in articles like a recent one in the NY Post ridiculing New Jersey for imposing laws that discourage new businesses– unless that business is government which experienced job growth while the number of private sector jobs in NJ shrank. New Jersey ranked 46th among the 50 states in job growth for the first half of 2008.
Personally, residents are contending with an increase in foreclosures and a decrease in home equity. Tax rates have gone up, along with the price of food, milk and obviously gasoline. The tepid drop in the price of gas is not reflected in the projected cost of fuel for this coming winter. Oil heat is expected to rise over 30% from last year, and natural gas is expected to rise over 20%. These are added burdens to the many New Jersey families who have loved ones from the 50th Infantry Division arriving for their tour of duty in Iraq this September; and those troops already serving there and in Afghanistan.
As the election season heats up, and the weather cools down, The Journal encourages residents to enjoy the remainder of the season and gain inspiration from the lush nature still in abundance. The words of the French Resistance fighter Albert Camus can offer a bit of insight into the challenges ahead. “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”