I’ve decided to write about one of my oldest friends, Lucy. WHY? BECAUSE I LOVE LUCY.
There isn’t a time when I don’t remember having Lucy in my life.
She's is one of the constants- No matter how much my hometown changes or where my life's journey takes me, Lucy remains the same. Actually, she gets better with age.
Whenever I see her, no matter how long it's been - she welcomes me with a wink and a smile.
Lucy is learned and wise. The years have given her wisdom and her eyes have seen more than most of us forget.
Lucy.....is an Elephant. YES, you heard me right, AN ELEPHANT.
Otherwise known as: Lucy THE Elephant!
And not just any elephant mind you. Lucy is larger than life, standing 6 stories (65 ft) tall, 60 feet long, and 18 feet wide. She weights close to 90 tons- and is proud of that fact!
Lucy was built in 1881 as gimmick to promote real estate in “South Atlantic City,” which is now called Margate - my hometown.
Lucy had many incarnations. First as Real Estate promotion, then as a mini hotel, private beach cottage and a tavern. – Imagine the visions of Pink elephants she inspired!
In the 1950’s she started to fall about and by the late 60’s she was ready for the wrecking ball.
In 1969 The Save Lucy Committee was formed and in 1970 Lucy was moved 2 city blocks to he r present location.
In 1971 she applies to be on the National register of Historic Places and is granted that status in 1976.
Over the years hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent to restore both her interior and exterior.
Lucy has ALWAYS been there for me.
When I was little, she provided me with wonderful memories of both my father and brother.
My first real memories of her are seeing her from the beach-back when I was a little girl.
My father and I would take walks on the beach and after a while we’d see her. I’d start waving to her and calling her name. “HI LUCY!!!- I LOVE YOU!!!” She’d stand there with her comforting smile, and I knew all would be well.
Another early memory is seeing her from the ocean, when I first learned to swim in the ocean.
I couldn’t have been more than four. My brother John was a Life Guard and his “job” in the family was to make sure I could swim. We went out in a Surf Boat with another guard and my brother John dove out of the boat. Me being me, jumped in after him and we started to doggie paddle, and that’s how I learned to swim. Together we paddled back to shore- and my brother kept saying: Swim towards Lucy! Swim towards Lucy!” And with his help (and hers,) I did.
In Grade School I remember singing & dancing (both as audience member and as a performer) at her summer out door concerts.
In Middle School- Lucy was my friend when others were not.
In High School, my first boyfriend kissed me under the stars right beside her trunk.
In college, the night of my sister’s funeral- my friends decided to take me out. It was night filled with beer, tears and lots of wonderful stories. My friend Matt and I broke from the group and took a walk in Lucy's direction. We sat by the bulkhead- with Lucy directly over our shoulders, shielding us from unseen things in the night.
Matt told me to look up at the stars,to the ocean in the sky-and remember that was where my loved one’s would always be. Those words brought me great comfort and still do today. Whenever I think of my father or sister, I know they are walking along the the ocean in the sky, healthy and happy along it's shore.
My “serious” boyfriends have all been introduced to Lucy ;)
Most recently, I took my niece Livy on a tour of Lucy. We sat atop her howdah and we laughed and laughed. We shared all sorts of secrets with her- and to her credit, Lucy has kept every single one.
The End ~
