  I went to the Jersey Shore this weekend with Suzanne and her family. I took Monday off as well so I could have an extended weekend there. The beaches were beautiful and the weather was in the 80's. Yesterday afternoon, there was a panic on the beach.
A 5-year-old girl disappeared the next beach over from us and the lifeguards were put on red alert. They pulled everyone out of the water and lined up the lifeguards to do a sweep of the ocean, taking one step and then diving, then another step and then diving. They had the coast guard around and rescuers on jet skis, kayaks, and rescue boards. They had people searching the streets in case she had wandered off. Everyone was staring at the life guards and looking around the beach. Sirens from emergency vehicles were blaring. Finally, the search ended and the lifeguards got out of the water and started running back in our direction to their posts.
The girl had been found wandering the streets a couple towns from where she had disappeared. She walked pretty far. As the lifeguards ran by, some people applauded. I think it's nice that everyone on the beach supported the lifeguards. There was a real feeling of community on the beach that afternoon... a sense of closeness as parents held their kids and older siblings looked out for their younger siblings.
There was one boy who put his hand on his little brother's shoulder and said, "if you were little, where would you run off to? " The togetherness that I saw on the beach reminded me of the togetherness I felt after September 11th... people forget for a moment about their own problems and show genuine concern for others. QOTD - "Next stop's coming up... (pause) BITCH! " - Guy on train to another guy trying not showing genuine concern for others and trying instead to start a fight after the Mets vs. Yankees game was cancelled on Friday night because the Yankees were scared to play -- OF COURSE THE NEXT STOP IS COMING UP YOU IMBECILE... THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT THE NEXT STOP! Dave/Milhouse, BA 
