July 22-Stories of the Heart-C.H.Admirand

A Spring Lake Summer by C.H. Admirand

My grandparents had a summer house in Spring Lake and we’d go down for a week at a time with one exception—the summer of ‘65—when we spent the whole summer in Spring Lake! I had three favorite spots in that wonderful old three story white stucco house with the dark green shutters at 216 Monmouth Avenue. The first was the wraparound porch—with white wicker furniture and floor to ceiling French doors always open to catch the breeze from the ocean and with it a haunting scent from my childhood.

The second was the back-staircase from the second floor down to the kitchen—and the pantry where Grandma always had a bag of potato chips stashed between her teacups and saucers. My big brother and I used to sneak down the stairs (quiet as mice) and snitch some chips.







And the third was my Aunt MaryLou’s bedroom—on the third floor at the end of the hallway by the back of the house. Grandma let her paint her furniture powder blue! I thought that was the coolest thing. Mary Lou let me use her record player. Every time I hear the Beach Boys singing their version of Hushabye and the Surfaris singing Image of a Girl I’m transported back in time to that summer.

Music was a huge part of my childhood and I remember chunks of my life by the songs. That summer, my two faves on the radio were: Save Your Heart for Me by Gary Lewis and the Playboys and Mrs. Brown by the Herman’s Hermits. We’d hear them when we went to Peterson’s for homemade ice cream, The Ritz when we went to see The Sound of Music, or to the Sound End where we would swim in the huge salt water pool. Climbing the stairs to the pavilion with our parents and grandparents, we could hold their hands and stand by the railing and see for miles in any direction. My favorite was always the ocean.

In my mind there’s never been another summer vacation that topped the Summer of ’65. Time, progress and the weather changed the landscape in Spring Lake. But in my heart and mind when I’m overwhelmed and need to escape, I close my eyes and take a trip back to that slice of childhood happiness where my parents and grandparents were both still alive and the hugs were plentiful.

C.H. Admirand lives in the wilds of northern NJ surrounded by men! One darling husband of 40 years, two grown sons, two male rescue dogs—and a few days a week has the pleasure of watching their two amazing grandsons for their daughter and son-in-law.