Over several summers and spring breaks after high school, I worked as a ride operator. Kiddie rides and Merry-go-Round first, then graduating to the bumper cars, and finally the BMOC (for “our” end of the ‘walk), the Jet Star. My first real boyfriend was the Lead Operator there and I was always happy to see that our shifts would coincide.
Sadly, as was probably inevitable, we broke up. That first break-up memory is still vivid – my heart breaking while looking out to the ocean and knowing he was nearby. Such is the stuff of young love. The drama. Yet to have it all playing out with the backdrop of the sand, the sun, the surf and the Boardwalk made it an even more indelible memory.
