For the past 13 years, we have encouraged visitors to consider Ortley Beach as a place for a
wonderful vacation, offering photos of our home on the Ocean block of Seventh Avenue as a place to rent. Now, standing amid the devastation from Hurricane Sandy, we know that such invitations take a back seat to a long period of recovery for this town, and the whole of the barrier islands.
I am grateful for grassroots organizations like Stop FEMA Now, who are asking and demanding answers to the hard questions, while home owners/tax payers either begin the process of restoring their homes or sit in limbo as they try to decide what decision regarding their homes will be the least financially and emotionally damaging.
Some of the wonderful places just around the corner from us -- the bagel shop, ice cream parlor, deli, restaurants, laundry mat, Chinese restaurant, and Barnacle Bill’s seem to be in various stages of recovery. We are delighted to be able to frequent Bakin' Bagels whenever we get some time to work on our home. Not having electricity or gas prevents cooking, of course, so hot coffee and great food are always welcomed for hard working home owners and their crew of families and friends.
While the Seaside Heights boardwalk is now officially open, and I am happy for the business owners there who have lost so much, it just raises more questions for me on why my community is still so far away from recovery.
Originally I believed whole heartedly that the spirit of the Ortley community is strong, and things would return to normal, but in reality even the strongest of spirits can become weary when the number of obstacles to overcome become too great.
Still, we are moving forward with restoring our home and plan to be there as soon as we can get it all together, hopeful that our neighbors will be in a place to do the same, and won't just walk away leaving the devastation behind them.
