A fond farewell to Summer (and the long overdue "I heart Jersey" post)...

Autumn is calling. But funny enough, I'm not quite ready to take the call. And for anyone who knows me - this is highly unusual. I typically adore the crisp, cool weather. I can't wait to wear my chunky sweaters and knee-high boots. But for the very first time in a long, long while, I actually miss Summer. A whole lot.

This was the first Summer I wasn't sitting behind a desk. In an office. With horrible lighting and air conditioning that made me feel like I was sitting in a meat locker. For the first time, my Irish whitey-white skin was exposed to enough sunlight that I didn't burn a scalding red after spending 2.5 minutes outdoors. Instead, this Summer I managed to get the kind of colour I only had as a child. I got to play outdoors. Walk in Central Park. Take ferry rides.

And the funnest ferry ride in the world was to my beloved New Jersey!!

I have to say that I had preconceived notions of New Jersey. I thought it would be industrial. And dirty. But I have never been more surprised (or happier) to be proven sooo completely wrong. This place is now my adopted second home.

Let me take you with me so maybe you can understand why I love this place so freaking much...

First off, you take the ferry (Seastreak) from East 35th Street in Manhattan. For $40.00 (roundtrip), you board a catamaran where you get all windswept and sunkissed from the glinting sunlight on the water. And when you pass by the statue of liberty along the way... well, y'know that's just an added bonus.

As the concrete jungle starts to shift into the distance, the high voltage frequency that is Manhattan starts to mellow out and you start to see this...

And you arrive on Jersey shore to see this...

My NYC soul sista' Lory lives in New Jersey. And I'm so grateful for her spirit during my New York experience. She's the kind of friend that's game for anything - like posing with me when I wanted to play tourist - even going along with my cheesy request to play "Statue of Liberty"!!

As you can see, Lory's impersonation is perfect (check out her hand).

Now look at my hand. It appears as though I am preparing Lady Liberty for a fistfight.

Apparently I may be even more New York than I thought...

For me, New Jersey is to New York what the Muskoka is to Canadians.

It's all water. And country. Green trees. Blue skies. Slower pace.

And the last weekend I visited, we had fun at a local bar prior to checking out a music festival on the water.

The bar also just happens to be a local hotspot for many of the elderly folk living nearby who come for the free dinner buffet. Meet Don. The dapper elderly gentleman with the smooth moves.

While the ladies of all ages loved him, he had a special place in his heart for our Lory (check out his vice grip on her)!

I know I'm a sap. But this nite was one of those great summertime memories where you head out on a balmy nite with your girls and feel carefree and open to whatever the nite brings.

Where one girl shared her number with the handsome bartender that requested it...

Where hair is flying in the wind and the music is loud enough that when we sing along to "Allejandro", our voices are drowned out just enough that we actually start to think we sound pretty darn good.

The place rocks.

New Jersey is one of my favourite places to be. Here's a sample of why...

Before we start to bundle up for the crisp Fall weather, I wanted to share my beautiful memories of Summer, Summer, Summertime in Jersey.

Farewell New Jersey. Farewell Summer.

Until we meet again.

Much love from the wannabe Jersey Girl,

aka Erica

My "little" cousin Brier got married (Calgary-style)...

I love this picture because this is what their entire wedding and reception was like.

Pure love. Swoony love. Glowing love.

And all of us who were lucky enough to celebrate with them swooned a little bit, too.

How gorgeous are these two as they make it "official"?!

And this dress...it was pure beaded, ethereal, silver screen-esque beauty.

Brier grew up far away from us so we only got to see each other occasionally at Christmases and other family gatherings. So it wasn't until we grew up that I really got to know her. And quite frankly, I adore her. Brier combines the qualities of her parents in a way that is entirely uniquely her: part confident intelligence, part grace and warmth. She is the kind of woman I would trust to handle pretty much anything.

But a few years ago when her mother, Marg, passed away suddenly (too suddenly for anyone to even process) I can only imagine the grief she endured. And oh how everyone wished that Marg could have been there.

With her long, straight hair and big round eyes, I imagine she would wear blue (it's what I always remember Auntie Marg wearing). I think she would hug Jeremy and tell him how lucky he was. She would ask him to love Brier well. It's what all her family asks of you, Jeremy.

May you both love each other the best way you can. Imperfectly. But with as much honesty and integrity as you can muster.

While last weekend was the first time I met Jeremy, there is a strength in him that I trust. And the words of his best man, whom he has known since early childhood, are a beautiful testament to his character:

"If there is a better man walking the earth, I have yet to meet him."

This is the highest compliment I have ever heard one man pay another.

The overriding sense I had from this entire day is one of family. Intertwined between and beneath this marriage is the great love and painful losses, the beauty and richness of the families that helped create these people and therefore this union.

From this foundation, I sense they are setting out with strong conviction to create a new family bond between them.

So Jeremy and Brier, as you head out on the journey ahead, may you remember that love is a choice. And may you choose it in every moment. Always.

Congratulations and much love to both of you,

Erica

U.S. Open, baby!

Thursday started with a call from my friend (angel) Valerie. Next thing I knew, I had two free tickets to that evening's U.S. Open!! Such a blessing...

We arrived at Arthur Ashe Stadium and it was pure bliss. From start to finish.

And I got to take my mother with me in spirit. She is a HUGE tennis fan and I called her to tell her I was going. My mom watched from home in Ottawa in the hopes of seeing me on her television screen. But we were sitting waaaaayyyyyyy up top in row V (see the very top of the stadium in the picture below? well we were a few rows down from there) so the cameras had little reason to pan up that high. Except for the fistfight that broke out right near us.

So while my mother didn't get to see me on tv, she did know I was there and for a few hours we shared a little tennis love and got to feel close, albeit from a great distance (can you tell I miss my mom?!).

Sharipova won as did Djokovic.

NYPD kept the venue secure on their "Mall Cop" vehicles...made me laugh out loud. Which I don't think was the intention. These men are serious police officers. Serious. And they are mobile. Serious mobile police officers.

The evening was a gorgeous summer-y evening with pink skies and soft breezes.

All in all a memory from New York I will remember always.

Much love (tennis style) from the U.S. Open,

Erica