Living in New Jersey my entire life, the shore has been loved and cherished as the most beautiful special place on earth. Cape May, Stone Harbor, Margate, Atlantic City, Seaside, Lavallette north to Asbury Park and the place I love the most Long Beach Island have all experienced natures wrath. The coast is the place where nature is complete. Sky, earth and sea, serenity and great power at the same time. The negative power of nature has always been considered but no one could possibly envision the devastation that has taken place to these towns over the last few days.
Everyone I know has some connection to the coastal areas affected. Homeowners, boat owners and business owners all are experiencing unimaginable loss. There are people still in those areas that decided to ride out the storm never imagining the dangerous conditions they would encounter. Walls of ocean so powerful they overtook dunes, crashed though anything in their path with ease and connected with the bay on the other side of land. Fires burning through the sand in some areas, adding a second assault to already damaged homes, destroying what remained. In other areas there is a strong smell of gas adding additional anxiety for people who still have not been allowed to return. No matter what section of the coast, it has all been turned into what looks like a bombed out war zone.
Many people, who live year round in these areas, took only enough for a few days away from their home. They have the suffered the greatest unimaginable loss.
My mood is one of great sadness for every one's loss and gratitude that we were forewarned and optimism that it won't be as bad as it looks when we actually are able to return. I keep thinking of the devastation in NYC on 9/11 and how their recovery progressed. It gives me hope.
I am grateful that people are spared, property can be replaced.
The painting shown here was done on 9th St in Barnegat Light on Saturday afternoon as the surf was starting to churn and the wind was kicking up announcing the beginning of the worst storm experienced in all time.
