July 20 Rockaway Beach

Chewing out a rhythm on my bubble gum the sun is out and I want some

It's not hard, not far to reach we can hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach

Up on the roof, out on the street down in the playground the hot concrete
Busride is too slow they blast out the disco on the radio

Rock rock rockaway beach Rock rock rockaway beach
Rock rock rockaway beach we can hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach

Rock rock rockaway beach Rock rock rockaway beach
Rock rock rockaway beach we can hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach

It's not hard, not far to reach we can hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach

It's not hard, not far to reach we can hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach

Chewing out a rhythm on my bubble gum the sun is out and I want some

It's not hard, not far to reach we can hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach

Up on the roof, out on the street down in the playground the hot concrete
Busride is too slow they blast out the disco on the radio

Rock rock rockaway beach Rock rock rockaway beach
Rock rock rockaway beach we can hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach
"Rockaway Beach" by The Ramones

Our last day in NYC. We took the bus to Rockaway Beach. Unlike the Ramones, I didn't think the bus was too slow but someone was playing Micheal Jackson songs along the way. I got my love of the beach from my father. He always took us to the beach wherever we lived. He also taught me how to bodysurf in the waves. My biggest regret about living in Chicago is not being near the ocean. I love riding the waves. Fighting the surf to get out to where the waves are breaking, jumping over or under the waves while waiting for the right one, the rush of diving over the top and catching the wave just right, the excitement as the waves crashes around you and propels you toward the beach...I love it all. Sometimes I feel like I live my whole life waiting for the next time I can stand on the shore looking out at 5-10 waves breaking perfectly and charge right in. Rockaway never lets me down. The tide was out and the waves were 5 feet at best but not very powerful. I caught a few good waves and spent time in between sets relaxing by floating on my back over the waves. A bit of a tribute to my grandfather who loved to float out past the breakers. I also love beach towns. Rockaway stretches for miles, we got off the bus at the 116th Beach. The couple of blocks to the boardwalk is like a beach town area, bars, pizzeria, surf shop, vendors selling beach supplies and a food stand on the boardwalk. There was also a memorial to Flight 587. That flight crashed into this neighborhood soon after takeoff from nearby JFK Airport about two months after Sept. 11th. It's always nice to spend time at a memorial for a plane crash hours before flying home. So I paid my respects and left for my Aunt's house. I had just enough time to shower, pack and eat the leftovers from last night veal cutlet dinner.