Yesterday, I got a call from my brother-in-law in New Jersey giving me some good news. Actually for him and my cousin, it's very good news. He just got a promotion from his company, and has been asked to move for the new opportunity. The new place, California.
Understandably, my cousin is excited. She has never been to Cali, and for her it is one of her dream places to be. My sweet little niece is now going to grow up to be a Cali girl instead of a Jersey one.
For me however, the news is somewhat sad.
I hate to sound selfish, but I am losing one of the places which I have grown to love. For the past 10 years I have been going there to visit family, and enjoying the area and lifestyle. It is a total change from the typical Mid-western life, more like an retreat to re-energize your soul. Sounds weird, and its not like I'm comparing it to Goa/West Indies/Hawaii, but New Jersey is cool.
I will surely miss things like the multi-cultural mix, its vicinity to NYC and Philly, the Jersey shore, the NJ transit/Amtrak train rides, the variety of desi food joints, the Bridgewater temple, the Jersey Turnpike and its EZ Pass toll booths, the jug handle turns, and many more things which I'm sure would fill this page up. Heck, talking about the jug handle turns, I think by now I've mastered the roads from Princeton to Rahway.
I guess in the process of visiting so many years, I became an adopted New Jerseyan with Ohioan blood.
Yes, again I am sounding a bit weird by saying NJ is like this for me, but I'll tell you I have never missed home when I go there.
Granted that Cali is a nice place to go visit, but I would say a large chunk of my relatives and some of my very close friends are already over there. It's like the saying, "Go West, young man" that comes up in my mind when I think of going there. Not that I don't like visiting Cali, but I don't think I could frequent the West Coast as I have been with the East.
With one of my cousins already moving overseas last year, I was happy that my other cousin was still in the Garden State.
But come this May, New Jersey will not be my "second home" anymore.
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7 comments:
You are the only man I know (well, I only know you through this blog) who complains about getting to visit California instead of New Jersey.
As I told you, it's weird with me.
But at the same time I'm not saying I don't like Cali.
I guess I've grown attached to NJ since visiting there once or twice a year, for the last 10 years, hence my feelings.
jersey vs. cali? no contest!!
OK...I guess some of you are missing my point.
Going to Cali will be fun (and I have been there 4 times already), so it's not like I don't like going there.
True, I'd rather enjoy the sun and shine of the West Coast. But it's not like the quick 3-day weekend trip to the East Coast.
The other thing is that I'll miss some of the things that I've gotten used to in NJ.
Never say never... I know I sound like an old man by saying that but you never know you could still frequent NJ, may for some other reason. You are acting as if the doors to NJ are forever closed. Cheer up bro!
On the bright side atleast now you'll be visiting Cali more often.
XXX
Thanks XXX!
And yes, I'll be seeing you in Cali more often then. :)
I was thinking why are we even comparing NJ Vs. Cali. Its like comparing India Vs. US. In fact, for a while I actually thought that NJ was a part of India and Indian laws applied there :-).
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