MEMOIR II
ESCAPE FROM THE CITY
As a youngster I was a member of scouts for years, going from Cub Scout to Boy Scout and on to Explorer. Along the way I earned an Eagle Award and learned and explored many things a city boy would not normally encounter. One of the activities I enjoyed the most was the opportunity to go camping.
An hour’s drive northwest of Newark was a Boy Scout campground near Booton, New Jersey. My troop would camp there several times a year, mostly in the winter. Cabins of various sizes dotted the campground. The only source of heat was a fireplace and cooking was done on a wood-burning stove. One winter, the weather was so cold that the pipes to the old hand pump burst and we had to melt ice for water. It seemed the harsher the conditions; the more we enjoyed the outing. City boys were facing nature head on.
The camping trips were formal outings organized by the troop. The less formal day hikes to the local Boy Scout area located in the South Orange Mountain Reservation, would be organized spontaneously, when a group of us were just hanging around with nothing to do. For a group of boys ranging from maybe eleven to thirteen, these trips were a real adventure. The beauty of these outings was that the city bus could take us to the base of the mountain. No adult input was required, once permission to go was obtained.
We usually caught the bus fairly early in the morning because once we arrived at the base of the mountain; it was at least an hour walk up the mountain to the Boy Scout area. Sitting amongst commuters going to work or out to do some shopping, we were ladened with packs and canteens and any other camping paraphernalia we thought we might need. We rode through the Newark downtown area, then north through some of the blighted areas of the city, and finaly on to the more affluent suburbs. The bus would leave us in the shopping district of South Orange, where we would start to trudge up the hill to what us city boys considered wilderness. We hiked past stately homes with manicured lawns, a far cry from our homes in Newark. Finally, the houses were replaced with trees and the sidewalks with a dirt shoulder – we were almost there.
Our destination lay down a dirt road branching from the main highway. The area was large and open, set aside where scouts could build fires and cook their meals. Across a stream bordering the area and up into the trees, stood a few cabins for weekend trips. The day hike area was also supplied with a generous amount of wood provided by work crews trimming trees. For a bunch of boys who thought starting a charcoal fire by themselves was an adventure – this was nirvana.
Everyone’s lunch was usually consisted of hot dogs and foil-wrapped potatoes and onions. The fire built to prepare these meager meals was immense to say the least. Once everyone tired of throwing on wood, we had a fire too hot to approach to do any cooking. Either you waited for the flames to die down or had to find a very long stick to cook our hot dogs. Late afternoon found us journeying down the mountain to catch the bus home. People on the bus would stare at us for we smelled of smoke on our ride home to Newark
THE DESIRES OF AN OLD MAN.
NO GOING BACK
I want to go back
To right my wrongs.
I want to go back
To enjoy the moments,
The best moments
Of my life.
I want to go back
To experience the good,
And obliterate the bad.
I know this is a dream,
Impossible,
But in my dreams
The impossible
Is accomplished.
A NEWARK MEMORY
THE NEWARK DRIVE IN
Tucked along the eastern edge of Newark, in the shadows of the Jersey City and New York City bound bridges was the Newark Drive In. Surrounded by factories, junkyards and tank farms, the drive in was almost directly under the flight path of nearby Newark Airport, which at times, made listening to the movie something of a challenge. When approaching the drive in, you were greeted by the swampy, musty smell of Newark Bay. ‘The Dumps, ‘an area living up to its name, also boarded the drive in and added to the odors of its refineries and sewage treatment plants creating the ambiance of the area.
Our Newark drive in was a large are with a tall wooden fence constructed as its boundary and a total lack of landscaping of any kind, being true to the Newark life style – bare essentials are all that you get.
On warm summer nights the family would pack into the old Chevy, supplied with food and pillows and drive out to the drive in. The smaller kids would already be in their pajamas in anticipation of not making it to the second movie of the double feature. Being the oldest, I was given the opportunity to sit up front. In those days, the front seats being bench seats, there was plenty of room.
We would arrive at the drive in just before dusk, pay our money and be given the PIC and off we would go. PIC was an insect repellent product. A flat spiral affair. you lit the end and it would give off a pungent aroma daring mosquitoes to venture near. I really don’t know if it worked because we would also douse ourselves with insect repellent to ward off the visitors from the nearby swamps.
We’d find our spot and park the car at just the right angle on the mound that ran the length of the theater to get a perfect view of the screen for everyone. The smaller kids, in their pajamas, would head for the playground and run around till they couldn’t see what they were doing which also indicated that it was time for the movie to begin.
One movie I recall seeing was entitled Macabre. The movie was supposed to be so scary that you were issued a life insurance policy when you entered the drive in. It was good for the length of the movie and if you should be unlucky enough to die of a fright-induced heart attack during the movie you collected, or you next of kin anyway. The movie was a real bomb; the cartoon was scarier. I wondered though what would have happened if someone would have dropped dead of your usual run-of-the-mill heart attack. Would they have collected?
There was always an intermission between movies. Time to advertise the goodies available at the snack bar. The screen would be full of dancing hot dogs and talking cups of soda all counting down the fifteen minutes till the next show. The audience was your typical Newark crowd, the women in their smocks and the dads in their handlebar t-shirts. One snack that was advertised every time I went to the drive in was Flavo Shrimp Rolls. The only place you could buy a Flavo Shrimp Roll was at the drive in, they did not exist outside their gates. I’m sure you could get other shrimp rolls someplace, but I don’t think your typical Newark crowd, at this time, ate many shrimp rolls. But up there on the screen, after the hot dogs had danced off you could see the cartoon characters lining up for their Flavo Shrimp Rolls. I think we actually bought one once, only once. I used to wonder who looked at the crowd coming into the drive in and said to himself, “These people will buy up Flavo Shrimp Rolls like there’s no tomorrow.”
The Newark Drive In is gone now, long gone. Last I heard, a movie theater stands where the drive in once existed. And I’m sure with the demise of the drive in went the opportunity for anyone to buy a Flavo Shrimp Roll.
OBSERVATIONS & OPINIONS
This a suggestion is suggestion for a writing project, either a short story or novel. There is something terribly wrong this country and there seems no way to fix it. Perhaps if readers experience, through fiction, the hurt, the sorrow being caused in this country something may happen. This is not the same country I remember as a child. Life has somehow lost its value. The slightest disagreement could end in death. Not long ago there were two mass shootings, one right after the other. Congress was not in session. Mitch McConnell said any action to be taken could wait. I wonder how many people died while Congress waited. But let’s be honest. Any action taken by congress would have little or no effect in solving the problem of guns. Our president said he would strengthen the gun laws of this country. A visit from the NRA changed his mind. The events experienced in Philadelphia during the past few days highlight the gun problem. Recently there were three events which indicate what a vicious society we have become. A mother was holding her two-year-old daughter IN HER HOUSE. Shots were fired and the child died, hit in the head. Can you imagine in that instant the anger, the fear and the hopelessness that mother experienced? I cannot imagine the sorrow that mother will experience for the rest of her life. Her innocent child denied a future by a senseless act committed by someone with no care for life or property. But this event is in no way unique. Every day, in this country, there are people gripped by the same emotions. Close to the same time, an eleven-month- old child was shot four times while sitting in a car seat. That poor child is now fighting to remain alive. The next day there was an argument between a man and his girlfriend. Two men intervened and asked the man arguing to go to his car and cool-down. Fifteen minutes later the man existed the car and shot these two men, trying to help, dead. These days trying to be of help could cost you your life. Life has become so cheap with the increased availability of guns. The NRA strives to defeat any law which would create a safer society. Who supplies the NRA with the money to accomplish their purpose? Could it be the gun industry putting profit over? How can we change this loss of life in our country? We can change it with our vote. We must elect people who will represent their constituents and not the organizations throwing money their way. We must elect those who have never accepted a dollar from the NRA. I know this is an impossible dream but something must be done. So, I say to writers write your hearts out and maybe you will reach the heart of this country.
OBSERVATIONS & OPINIONS
Why is it that convict, having paid their debt
to society are remembered for their wrongdoings
for the rest of their lives? For some, making that
life unbearable.
Yet, at the same time, companies are responsible for
crimes against humanity, make immense profits,
and all they need to pay are small fines with
a fraction of the profits made.
And their top managers are paid millions
for the crimes they have committed.
And our society, for the most part, forgets
HELPING WRITERS
This world, this country, unfortunately has provide endless material for writers of fiction and nonfiction sorry, but I cannot help but think and express my thoughts. I know this blog is meant to aid writers in their journey to publication. At the same time, we writers must address the world.
In the future I will address these sites with details and how they can help
your writing experiences.
WRITER’S WEBSITES
MARKETS
Duotrope
A powerful tool for finding publishers for nonfiction, fiction and poetry.
Also lists markets for visual arts. Their latest added category is agents. Costs $50 for a year’s membership.
https://duotrope.com/about/?ref=gaw&kw=duotrope
Ralan
Has markets for speculative fiction, science fiction.
https://www.ralan.com/index.htm
Children’s Publishers Directory
If you want to publish for children, here is a good source.
https://www.publishersglobal.com/directory/subject/children-publishers/
AGENTS
AAR
Association of Author’s Representatives is the most trusted source of literary agents. These agents will not charge to read. If an agent does charge of read your work, run don’t walk away.
https://www.publishersglobal.com/directory/subject/children-publishers/
Agent Query
https://www.agentquery.com/default.aspx
PROTECTION
Absolute Water Cooler
A site to question other writers who have dealt with publishers or agents you are considering. They tell you of their experiences with these organizations.
https://absolutewrite.com/forums/activity.php?s=cfdd3a5dd5cf87c72fb67e8f37589cd3
Aid for Writers
Goodreads
This is a site for writers to connect with readers, and readers to connect with writers. Join, it’s free. You may have to explore this site to find i
https://www.goodreads.com/book
Savvy Writers
This is another website for writers. Explore and find what you want. It’s free.
https://savvyauthors.com/about-us/
Manic Readers
I have used this site to get a free, honest review. Join this site. It’s free. To get a review you must be published by a publisher. No self-publishing. I have not recently looked at this site, but they apparently charge for reviews. This puts me off for if you pay for the review would be honest? Or will they give you a good review so you come back. It’s your decision.
https://connect.xfinity.chttps://connect.xfinity.com/appsuite/#!!
OBSERVATIONS & OPINIONS
THE PAST AND THE OBSERVATIONS OF TODAY
Today like every other day a corruption is identified in either industry or government.
I grew up in the 50’ and 60’s when there weren’t any corrupt practices.
RIGHT!
I’m sure they existed and cleverly concealed. The technology did not exist to easily reveal them. Money and intimidation played a major part in their secrecy.
Today, things are different. Every day new corruptions are revealed. And every day nothing of consequence happens.
Good lawyers and money are finding ways around the system. Or making their way through the system through donations to politicians.
I want to share my personal experience with a large company.
I worked for this company for 22 years, which constantly morphed into a different organization due to mergers. The final merger with a less than reputable company, which in reality, was a subtle takeover was the death nell of values I respected.
When I began my job with this company it was honest, focused on their products. But over time things changed. As with most companies the focus now is on the bottom line to please stockholders.
Day after day I hear company adds talking about their top managers on retreat to discuss the company’s culture.
Corporations provide pleasant surrounding for the top executives of the company to discuss the future of the company and to their culture.
The culture is the bottom line. If a company could produce a product which would benefit society but not be profitable, what would be the decision of this products future, I don’t have to tell you what the choice would be.
The company I worked for was once sued for over three billion dollars. They said they were not guilty, but would pay the fine to put this behind them.
Have you heard that before?
I feel today we all pawns. Our lives are manipulated by the 1% not caring about our lives or the country. Their object is wealth and power.
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