Doo-Wop Days or "New-Op" Ways

(As Published in The Wildwood Sun Summer 2025)

No one truly sits alone at the beach…

To someone walking along the shoreline, a solo sunbather may look alone—but in the bather’s heart, the simple act of resting on a beach chair, digging toes in the sand, connects them to decades of memories. And most of those memories are of togetherness.

Though I was fortunate to grow up here, I didn’t fully understand my connection to the beach until after a seven-year absence. Returning to the Wildwoods let me unpack the parts of my youth I’d set aside—the family traits I’d once loved but learned to live without. Wildwood gave me the gift of opening my own business, making peace with the ocean, and bringing a new beach baby into the world. I had forgotten that soul goals could exist—until I returned to the shore.

Now, I see it in my patients each summer: a tension that rises as June arrives. They’re afraid of missing their chance to remember. There’s a short window to embrace summer, and I’ve learned the secret is setting an intention before you arrive.

This summer, do you need familiarity—or a fresh start?

Removing the sense of scarcity from a summer at the shore begins with setting an intention. Are you here to chase nostalgia—eating at familiar spots, seeing old friends, riding the same rides? That’s beautiful. Let your inner child giggle down the Log Flume.

Or maybe this is your year for something new in a familiar place. The Wildwoods offer five miles of both Doo-wop and “New-op” charm and fresh adventures. Try something you’ve always meant to.

As a local mom and business owner, I believe in blending both: honor your favorite traditions, then add something new to deepen your connection with the shore.

If you’re feeling like time is slipping away before summer even starts, take that as a sign: plan for peace. Decide now how you’ll spend your togetherness in 2025.

Time passes quickly at the Shore, yet somehow, the precious things are preserved.

To prove my point, here are two photos taken nearly 30 years apart, showing myself as a baby on the Wildwood Crest beaches, and now my son.

Doing nearly the same thing… playing, learning, and loving by the sea.

The Wildwood Sun by the Sea is a Wildwood exclusive paper since 2004. Filled with historic highlights of the island, events, and local inspiration. Learn more at their website and follow on Instagram!