America: A Shinning Tent City on a Hill

New Jersey’s rolling horse ranch country goes by outside John’s car window.  Endless, white, wooden fences frame seemingly open fields where horses seem to run free.

Patty from the front passenger seat.

‘You know…when you suggested this I thought…that’s weird…riding around…where rich people live.’

Adjin  from the back seat

‘We casing these joints Johnny? We gonna rob somebody?’

Patty

‘If you two ever rob anyone…I’ll give up on humanity.’

Adjin

‘Johnny never does anything wrong. Ask the Priest who told him not to come back until he’s really sinned.’

John

‘Not until…he said unless.’

A stand of ever green trees acts as a wind break to the open pasture land.

‘God’s country.  People always see the sky…or pretty places as God’s country.’

Patty

‘Well…where would you have God’s country? Camden? Newark? Kinda insulting?’

John

‘Why should rich people be where God’s country is?’

John turns south, and in less than half an hour they’ve entered a suburban area and then the town of Lakewood.’

‘I want you to see something. I had to show someone.’

They enter a wooded area.

Patty

‘Pinelands. Hey, you see the Jersey Devil?’

Adjin

‘We gonna hide behind trees and throw pebbles at people hunting for the Jersey Devil.’

Patty

‘You two didn’t?’

John laughs

‘Oh, the middle aged monster hunters loved it. They took pictures of the pebbles we threw as evidence of the Jersey Devil.  Not here to see a monster.  But I did see something that scared me in the woods.’

Adjin

‘No way. Figures, the one time I’m not with you.’

John stops the car.

‘We walk from here.’

Patty and Adjin jump out of the car laughing.

Patty

‘This is fun. And you are all mysterious and stuff.’

Soon, they see what appears to be plywood, ripped plastic tarps and cardboard houses. The wood has black mold on it and the tarps are muddy. Filth, plastic bags. Propane tanks strewn.’

Adjin

‘Dude, these could be meth creeps. What’ll they doing living in the woods. ‘

Patty

‘He’s right…I saw on Discovery ID…meth labs are often in the country…around the Mid West or something.’

John

‘They’re not. I’ve talked to them. I have started to help out a bit…there’s this minister here.’

Adjin

‘A minister here? This is more like hell. It’s only like 20 something…today….what about tonight?’

John

‘The Minister? Maybe some places that look like God’s country….in a way he’s already there…inspiring us with the world’s beauty.  But some places…maybe you’ve gotta bring God with you….or through you. You do kinda bring people hope…just by caring. ‘

Patty

‘So that’s why you brought us to where Springstein lives and then to here?’

John

‘No that was just where rich people live. I’m not knocking everyone. Or maybe I am.  Jon Bon Jovi and Springstein do a lot for people. But that song that says: ‘Wherever this flag is flown….we take care of our own.’ I mean, look at these plywood shacks of homeless people. It’s not true. America does not take care of its own.  Anyway thanks for coming with me. I had to tell someone. ‘

Patty, John and Adjin walk back to John’s car.

Patty

‘Wonder if anyone can use someone with some nursing knowledge. Like I could fix simple cuts and things so they don’t get infected.’

John

‘I’ll give you the Minister’s number. He knows these people.’

Adjin

‘Who are these people? How do they let themselves get homeless.’

John’s car pulls out of the woods and heads south and then east towards the ocean.

John

‘My Aunt says people are only a medical bill or loss of a job away from being homeless in America.’

As they approach Barnegat Bay, yachts are dry docked.

John points to them.

‘You know I got $500 a few times this summer for polishing brass on one of those.’

Patty

‘How were the owners? Were they jerk-offs’

John

‘Never met them. Some guy who manages their properties paid me. They just wanted someone honest. People see what other people got and get all crazy. Or if people have a lot….they get crazy and think everyone is out to rob them or something.  Or if they’re poor they think everyone has yachts so why not rob everyone…wherever this flag is flown….people take care of their own. Nope. It’s not true.’

Adjin rubs John’s shoulders                                               

‘Oh Johnny…people care. You can’t save the world.  People have to help themselves too.’

The car rises on the bridge over Barnegat Bay. They have to stop because the drawbridge is open to let a large white schooner with cobalt blue sails glide through like an American Dream.

Adjin, John and Patty get out of the car, look down on the boat.

John

‘Look. The seat cushions match the sail.’

Patty

‘I can see why they have you polish the brass. Look at the brass glitter in the sun. Does the Pope have a boat?’

John

‘Oh, I don’t know. I try not to think of the crap that gets in the way of being ….of praying.’

The sail boat glides into Barnegat Bay’s fading sunset.

As the car enters Seaside Park, John takes the road along the bay beaches.  The large modern and Victorian houses with waving sea grasses and Nantucket white fences have blushed pink in the sunset.  It’s almost as if they are embarrassed by their wealth.

Lakewood NJ's tent city. Still there in 2012.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmKUG-xurQA

The Greatful Dead sea scrolls

The Greatful  Dead sea scrolls

John and Adjin are walking on the deserted winter beach of Seaside Heights NJ. The white sands stretch out before them to an empty, dead sea-devoid of people this time of year. 

Adjin

‘It’s so warm and great….the salty air and there’s nobody walking here this time of year. It always amazes me.  Where is everybody?‘

John

‘Probably inside the Ocean County Mall…trying to buy something…American values…what’s on sale.’

The empty pier with skeletal parts of rides looks like some abandoned town of a by-gone people. As they walk beneath the piers, the raw nature of the sea calls to John…and nature just plain calls to Adjin. Rather than peeing in the sea, Adjin runs back into the cave-like recesses of the pier.

Adjin calls out

‘John, check it out…I’ve found some really ancient writings…’

John looks up at the pier…to a Greatful Dead sticker.  On the log-like pilings, quotes.

Adjin

‘How old are these writings.’

John

‘Really old.’

Adjin

‘Like 80’s?’

John

‘Older. Much. Look at them.  They’re like a glimpse into what people were thinking…beliefs from a long time ago. Maybe the 70’s even.’

Adjin

‘Well…it’s not my Quran but they’re pretty cool thoughts. Look…’

Adjin points to a quote.

John reads it out loud.

‘A peaceful place, so it looks from space. A closer look…the human race.’

‘Here’s another one.’

John points

‘What good is spilling blood…it will not grow a thing.’

‘Some folks look for answers…others for fights.’

Adjin

‘The greatness of this moment is as small as it is grand.’  Wow? What does that mean?’

John

‘It means put down the hash pipe..or whatever’

Adjin

‘Don’t be a collector of more than you need, got  a lot of things growing, but keep watching your seeds.’ I never hear that kind of thing. Where did these people vanish to who thought like that?’

John

‘They’re in the Mall.’

Adjin

‘Every silver lining has a touch of grey.’ ‘That’s so true.’

John

‘Could say the same thing about squirrels.’

UM = clum

The clear,  blue sky allowed the sliver Chrysler Building to shine outside John’s office window on Lexington Ave. John was just thinking there’s not a cloud in the sky when a funny little one appeared in his office.

 David in front of John’s desk.

‘Soooo. Happy New Year!’

John

‘Happy…well yours is really in September.’

David

‘See. That’s why we’re friends…you're sensitive to me...my belief.  You’ve taken the time to know a bit about me.’

John

‘I try and you are a good friend.’

David smiling

‘Don’t try so hard.’

John

‘Why?’

David

‘Cause when you wrote your Season of Hope ad for Miami. I got  Bernie yelling at me on the phone.’

John

‘Why?’

David

‘Cause when you were told he liked your ad, you told the person to tell him UM=clum.’

John

‘Yeah, peace.’

David

‘No. That would shalom.’

John

‘No. Shalom is what those women on that TV Land show say: Shalom, shamozzel, hossenfeffer incorporated. Lavern and Shirley.’

David

‘You're quoting Lavern and Shirley Johnny? Shalom means peace. Lavern says 'shlameel.’'

John

‘Well what did I say?’

David

‘You said in Hebrew that the UN  means nothing.’

John

‘Oh I got that from that protest against the UN resolution against Israel…remember we marched, I got punched in the face by somebody who hates Jews.  And so he punched the only Christian in our gang: me. And you made me an honorary Heb.  And there were signs UM=clum and shalom. And 'a free Palestine state must recognize Israel'….’

David

‘And so I get the phone call that yells at me for getting the blond kid involved in UN politics….when he’s here to make Bernie money.’

John

‘So that’s a good thing. He thinks I make him money.’

David

‘K. We were talking about me.’

John

‘Oh, how was your holiday Hannachuch’

David

‘Stop. Stop. Stop. Your hurting my ears. Besides. The first night you get books….then a pad…then pens…then you realize it’s a back to school holiday.  That’s part of Richard Black’s routine.’

John

‘So Happy New Year David.’

David

‘Yes. Be insensitive like the rest of America. Oye  

John

‘Oyeee?’

David smiles and waves his finger at John

‘stop…’

the Elf wore Easter grass.

Lights shine through immaculately clean windows and Irish lace curtains as John pulls up to his home. Ah, he sees a familiar car is parked there. ‘Oh no, he thinks….Betty budd-in-ski…one of Aunt Margaret’s friends. The one who brags, belittle’s and has always recently found a great buy which proves her superior intellect.

John open’s the kitchen door.  He takes a deep breath and walks into the dining area.

John

‘Hi. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year….or I guess clown fest..judging by this year’s first night celebration on the boardwalk.’

Betty

‘Hi dear. How are you? How was your year? Although I already know that answer.  Maybe this will be the year you have a good job or a girlfriend. Oh, you know…a good year.’

John

‘Wow. That was fast. You sized my whole life up. Gotta  geta  girlfriend.  You up for stuff?’

Aunt Margaret

‘John.’

John

‘Aunt Margaret’

Betty

‘Well your Aunt’s not getting any younger. Our eye sight’s going…’

Aunt Margaret

‘An Elf fell off the shelf.’

John

‘Is this a nursery rhyme?’

Aunt Margaret

‘…and he was wearing Easter grass.’

Betty

‘You know what that means. So the Easter grass must have been on that shelf for a year.’

John

‘No way. This house…every inch is cleaned constantly….except in my room.’

Aunt Margaret to Betty

‘His space.’

Betty waves her hand

‘So then you explain it.

John thinks for a minute.

‘Well, most of the year…the elves are put up in the attic with the Easter bunnies and grass. No one’s around. It’s dark. You don’t know what goes on up there. Maybe they had a picnic in the Easter grass.’

Betty

‘What an imagination. Where does he get these ideas…how’s the writing career going.’

John

‘It’s part time.’

Betty

‘I know.'

John

'I know...you know.'

Betty

 So..... did you all have a good Christmas? Did you go to First Night?’

John

‘I went.  Worked it a bit too with Adjin. Lot’s of people. It was so warm outside. Lot’s of clowns and tricks being done and prizes. Lot’s of things to give away or buy. More things.’

Betty

‘I’ve said it before. And I’ll say it again. I love my things. I love my new silver car and my stainless steel, French door refrigerator with the crushed and cubed ice and water in the door…’

John

‘Yeah, that’s cool.  First Night used to be so different. Quite moments to be peaceful and hopeful and thankful for the things that matter are important too. And the best things in life…are not things.’

Betty

‘I disagree. We live for things…we work for things. I love my things.’

John

‘Do they love you back? Would they miss you if you were gone. Stop working? Or just go on and give someone else crushed ice? I like crushed ice too…but sometimes I think things are Satonic…no that would be a cool name for a mixed drink. Satanic! Things are a distraction. They keep us from focusing on the things that matter.’

Betty

‘O.k. Father John…what things matter. Bibles…the cross on your neck…only religious buildings?’

John

‘…I don’t care what religion anyone is. But I think the things that matter are living things…animals….people…God.’

Betty

‘I certainly don’t view God as a living thing.’

John

‘I know you don't.’