Letter from the Editor

WELL... THIS IS DIFFERENT

I’ve found myself saying that a whole lot these past few months. Because, well, this IS different! From masks to no crowds allowed to curbside delivery and six feet apart rules… the current situation is a lot to take in. But this past Memorial Day Weekend, when my family and I were out on the Boardwalk, it seemed, dare I say, almost normal. Yes, there were a lot of masks, and stores weren’t as accessible as usual… but there were people smiling, laughing, having fun. There were couples holding hands, kids eating cones, people in bathing suits heading to the beach… There was a crowd around 9th and Boardwalk, a more distant gathering, but still, it felt good to see.

On our first Boardwalk experience of the season, we normally hit what we call the “Trifecta”… three treats from OC shops. They range, but many times include Shriver’s, Prep’s, Manco, Johnson’s Popcorn, Kohr Bros., Curly Fries, Jilly’s Lemonade, you get the idea. This year, we added in a fourth treat and went Quadrophenia as my husband Bill called it.

Pandemics will do that, I guess.

We started with a cone from Kohr, went to fudge from Shriver’s, topped it with pizza from Manco and Curly Fries. That first lick of orange swirl custard from Kohr was like a salve to my beach loving soul.

And BAM… summer arrived... despite the worry of how it would feel, what it would look like, or whether or not it would even happen.

And you know what?

It felt pretty normal after all. Yes, it’s a new version of normal but that was fine by me. As I sliced into my Reese's Pieces fudge with that iconic white plastic knife, and looked out over the ocean with the sun shining, life was good.

This summer, I hope we all go back to basics and remember the good times are still there, waiting to happen. Ocean City beaches, Downtown and Boardwalk are there waiting for you, ready for you, excited for you. That much remains the same.

Inside this issue, we explore all good things to do in and around the island, check in with local businesses, see what’s new (or new to you) in shopping, dining, activities and more. We also check in with Ocean City High School and our 2020 graduates, who were especially impacted this year. See the class list, and hear from some students about what life for them is like right now. See you on the beach... ~Stef Godfrey, editor - Email me at editor@ocnjmagazine.com.