Jerseylicious. What a great word. Jersey is hot. I'm not sure how many shows there are about our little garden state, but these days there seem to be plenty. But seriously, are these shows a good representation of the true essence of a Jersey girl? Are the "real" housewives of New Jersey really all that real? Um, not so much - fake boobs, fake nails, spray tans, tough "tauwk", clothes with designer labels and a McMansion does not a Jersey girl make. And, don't even get me started on "Jersey Shore" - just don't. We're a diverse state people! There are preps in New Jersey, and crunchy granola people and people of various ethnicities, and plain old white bread people and a whole lotta other kinda peeps.
So, while the tough talking gals you see on TV might represent one type of Jersey girl, I'm guessing (and hoping) people know that's NOT what all of us are about. Not that there's anything wrong with that - I watched a marathon of the "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" one day while I was cleaning out closets and I couldn't turn it off. I even watched last weeks train wreck of an episode and like most train wrecks, I just couldn't turn away despite the canned and absurd drama over nothing but nonsense. I'm thinking I just might tune in again on Monday. I can't really tell you why because a few weeks ago I wanted nothing to do with any of it.
And honestly, I'm down with the spray tan. I have no problem giving my pale Irish skin a little glow every now and then-it's healthier than baking in the sun or lying in a tanning bed and I'd rather be glowing bronze than alabaster. But, all the other bells and whistles I can do without. Except maybe my Brazilian blow out.
Also, for the record - nobody in New Jersey pronounces Jersey "Joisey". Nobody. And, while many of us enjoy our Jersey shore we do actually leave New Jersey. I spent the fourth of July at a lake in New York state. After dinner one night just as darkness started to fall, with no makeup, no nail polish, no hair gels, no nothing, I jumped in the lake. And I felt as Jerseylicious as ever.
Yes, Jersey girls visit other places and move to other states and bring with them all their Jersyliciousness. You certainly can take the girl out of New Jersey and even take the New Jersey accent out of the girl from New Jersey but you can't take the Jersey out of the girl. Why would you want to?
So, here is my little list of why it's great to be a Jersey girl.
* Attitude - whether you're a quiet Jersey girl (there is such thing) or a loud Jersey girl, we've all got some sass in there. You can push our buttons, but be warned if you do.
* Directness - saying what you mean and meaning what you say. I think this just might be a Jersey girl birth right.
* Confidence - love us or hate us, there's no doubt we can be pretty sure of ourselves.
* Resilience - we take our knocks like anyone else, but it's tough to keep a Jersey girl down.
* Good company - from Clara Barton and Harriet Tubman to Meryl Streep and Queen Latifah some damn good women come from our state.
* NYC - so close! Need I say more?
* Newark Airport - yeah, we can freaking fly almost anywhere. Direct.
* Mountain Access - skiing, hiking, mountains....not very far at all.
So, yes, TV is kind of giving us a bad rap these days. It's really sort of annoying. But, I still think it's great to be a Jerseylicious kind of woman.
"Jersey girls have that inner glow that makes them more beautiful than any other girl". - Bon Jovi
