Diana Brunner - Bringing Home the American Dream

You don't think of fruit when people mention "The Oranges";

You know that it's called Great Adventure, not Six Flags;

A good, quick breakfast is a hard roll with butter;

You've known the way to Seaside Heights since you were seven;

You've eaten at a diner at 3 A.M.;

You know that the state isn't one big oil refinery;

At least three people in your family still love Bruce Springsteen;

You know the town Jon Bon Jovi is from;

You know what a "jug handle" is;

You know that WaWa is a convenience store;

You know that the state isn't all farmland;

You know that there are no "beaches" in New Jersey--there's the shore--and you don't go "to the shore," you go "down the shore." And when you are there, you're not "at the shore"; you are "down the shore";

You know how to properly negotiate a circle;

You knew that the last sentence had to do with driving;

You know that this is the only "New" state that doesn't require "New" to identify it (try . . Mexico . . . York ..! . . Hampshire-- doesn't work, does it?);

You know that a "White Castle" is the name of BOTH a fast food chain AND a fast food sandwich;

You consider putting mayo on a corned beef sandwich a sacrilege;

You don't think "What exit?" is very funny;

You know that people from the 609 area code are "a little different";

You know that no respectable New Jerseyan goes to Princeton--that's for out-of-staters;

The Jets-Giants game, Mets-Yankees game, or Devils-Rangers game have started fights at your school or local bars;

You live within 20 minutes of at least three different malls;

You refer to all highways and interstates by their numbers;

Every year you have at least one kid in your class named Tony;

You know the location of every clip shown in the Sopranos opening credits;

You've gotten on the wrong highway trying to get out of the mall;

You weren't raised in New Jersey--you were raised in either North Jersey, Central Jersey or South Jersey;

You know that people from North Jersey go to Seaside Heights, people from Central Jersey go to Belmar, and people from South Jersey go to Wildwood - It can be no other way;

You don't consider Newark or Camden to actually be part of the state;

You remember the stores Korvette's, Two Guys, Rickel's, Channel, Bamberger's and Orbach's;

You also remember Palisades Amusement Park;

You've had a boardwalk cheese steak and vinegar fries;

You start planning for Memorial Day weekend in February;

And finally . .

You've NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, EVER pumped your own gas!