Missing in New Jersey

I'll miss several things about New Jersey, especially friends and the New Jersey Autumn. Yes, New Jersey can be very beautiful... (If you haven't been told this, read on.)

Another thing to miss about New Jersey is the signage. In fact, I often miss it even when I'm here! Sometimes, when you really could use a sign ... "forget about it!" as they say here. (Pronunciation key: fuh-ged-a-boud-id.)

For example, let's say you're trying to find the Garden State Parkway. You are delighted to see a sign like this that points the way:


Great! Now you know you are headed the right direction, right? Wrong! The problem? This sign directs you ahead, but unfortunately you are not informed later that you then need to make a left at the light, take a right down the alley, and curve slightly left (not a hard left!!!) onto the one way street to enter the Parkway...

So, you'll drive straight ahead until you eventually realize that you have probably gone too far now that you see the Empire State Building, or Cape May, or Pennsylvania, or whatever.

But here's one of my all time favorite signs, located right down the street from our house:


Signs like this reveal the reality of back roads life in New Jersey. And the funniest part is that whenever you are given directions by a New Jersey resident, they (or "we") begin with the words "It's easy! Just..."

If your opinion of New Jersey is largely negative, it's probably because you've received reports from those whose travels in New Jersey are limited to the major highways. Yeah, yeah, the view from there is pretty much bad signage and messy rest stops. But anyone who has ventured into the heart of the state knows it has its share of natural beauty. The problem is simply that those who get off the beaten path tend not to find their way back!

So, we will miss New Jersey indeed -- if we can find our way out.