Day 3: Holmdel, New Jersey, 435 miles, 5 states
I am amazed at this spring, this conflagration
D. H. Lawrence, “The Enkindled Spring”
Of green fires lit on the soil of the earth, this blaze
Of growing, and sparks that puff in wild gyration,
Faces of people streaming across my gaze.
We’re now seeing family in New Jersey. This means renewing ties that have been too long restricted to email, phone and zoom. But it also means newing (?) ties with Claire, the baby who joined the world last September 5.
Yesterday we went for a walk in Deep Cut Gardens, an enchanting site with waterfalls, formal and informal gardens, statuary, and lush trails. It’s a marked contrast to the life of the man who developed it, Vito Genovese. He reportedly sought a retreat from mob warfare in New York City. See The Gangster’s Garden.
Chip's journey 
Perfect poem choice. Hi Claire!
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Claire is my grand-niece. My sister and Claire’s immediate family all live here. They have various connections going back a long time in Moorestown, Holmdel, Camden, and other towns.
New Jersey should win some sort of award for having the greatest spread between urban, industrial nightmare and bucolic beauty. Maybe there’s a collective sense to keep quiet about the latter so that it doesn’t become overrun.
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Nice story about the Don’s garden.
Claire is a delightful name. Is she niece, grandniece, cousin twice removed, niece-in-law? Never knew you to have a connection to NJ other than Rutgers. I understand why you would keep that quiet.
Pay attention to the road.
Mick
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