Jersey Girl

By Martyn Bey

Nothing matters in the whole wide world when you are in love with a Jersey girl.

Bruce Springsteen

Everyone needs a Jersey girl in their life, and every good story needs a Jersey girl.

Look at it this way. You should always know the ups and the downs of life. There is advice that means damn all to anyone, there is advice that will get you into a shedload of trouble, and then there are Golden Rules, values and principles you can take to the bank, the advice of a Jersey girl.

If you are lucky, you will know what I mean, and in very touching, tangible and meaningful ways.

My Jersey girl is called Karen, and she lives in a small place in Monmouth County, between the ocean and the Manasquan River, in Brielle, and near the famous Asbury Park, in a place where once the Lenape Native Americans roamed.

Karen is the living epitome of the Jersey girl. Bright, right, and straight to the point.

The Jersey girl has many virtues that can surprise, please and delight us. They leave nobody with an indifferent heart, spirit, and soul.

The Jersey girl is rightly known for being confident and outgoing, bubbly and bold, inspiring and motivating. Karen lives, eats, and breathes these attributes to the max.

Although her parents and close relatives had died or disappeared well before she reached her twenties, she cherished the family that remained, even if her hopes and desires in that respect weren’t always reciprocated. Life can be cruel like that.

The Jersey girl is hard-working, ambitious, and proud. They have street smarts and like to make fun and have fun, and they are amazingly trustworthy. Karen has all of these and more, and she is amazingly proud of her Garden State in a very no-nonsense way.

As you will know, New Jersey is close to New York City, so fashion is often a big deal. Jersey girls are typically very aware of style trends and frequently have a polished, put-together look. Think big hair, designer labels, and a lot of attention to personal appearance. We used to sit out in her yard in the afternoon sun, drinking white wine, eating finger food and talking non-stop about fashion.

Karen is always flamboyant and outspoken, sarcastic and humorous, super-simple and super-intelligent, and she has a big personality that comes with an intense and persistent need to protect her family, friends and loved ones. I can vouch for this first-hand. You don’t want to mess with a Jersey girl and her sentimental bonds.

Originally from a dirt-poor part of rural Virginia, Karen had made a successful career for herself, and her little part of New Jersey became her forever home.

Her first job was in the army. She never talked about that part of her life much. However, it had equipped her with hand-to-hand combat skills, the knowledge and experience to read almost any hostile situation, and the ability to handle a gun without shooting herself. But these are aspects of Karen’s life that I know very little about, and I would never dream of pushing her on it.

If you have ever been to New Jersey, you will know the truth of what I’m going to say. It’s not a place that will leave anyone with a heart feeling indifferent. It’s my kind of state. It’s a special place, and no one with an open and generous spirit can reasonably deny that fact.

When we can’t be physically together and are separated by the pond, we like to call the Atlantic, and we do video conference calls over the internet. And we talk literally for hours and hours. Sharing art, music, recipes and tales from our lives.

For this Welshman, New Jersey always feels like a home away from home. It’s authentic, level-headed and well-grounded, and I can’t imagine my Welsh grandparents feeling out of place there.

Will Smith: What’s your daughter’s name?

Ollie: Gertrude.

Will Smith: Damn! Why’d you do that, man?

Jersey Girl