During the summer of the 1960’s, when I was in elementary school, my parents drove to the Jersey shore every Saturday during the summer. We went to a private bathing beach called “Sea Bay Park” in Mantoloking. NJ. After a couple of years, a motel, called the Thunderbird was built next to it. From 9am till 3pm I enjoyed the crashing waves while holding onto the ropes. I still remember the lunch, hamburgers with sand. But you know what? I’d love to have that experience again today. Then, after 3pm, my parents drove to Seaside Heights where I enjoyed the rides; the Tilt A Whirl, the Scrambler, and the Crazy Cups on the Funtown Pier. Then my mom, who was highly “psychic” would play the games of chance at Sonny and Rickies and other stands. At Sonny and Rickies, she came home with a Black Angus broiler, Oster Blender, Rival can opener, GE Clock Radio and countless other items. She also won cartons of her Winston cigarettes at a game where she rolled a ball into a hole. Then she won me cartons of candy! That was the Seaside of the 1960’s.  Today, Seaside is different. There are few games of chance and the ones that are present are basketball related or knock the jars off related which are far more difficult if not impossible. I have serious concerns about the recent boardwalk fire. Here’s why. After Sandy, Casino Pier did an extensive rebuilding. Funtown Pier, did not, and most of Funtown got destroyed in the fire. Last Wednesday, the day before the fire, I was walking in the area and considering getting a slice of pizza from Maruca’s  but I wasn’t hungry enough. Sad to say that Maruca’s from what I’ve heard was destroyed by the fire. I don’t think Seaside can ever return to what I loved in the 1960’s, because times were so different then. But maybe it can help us to work toward a direction for the future!