Fair Haven Dock Days of Summer

Go jump in a … river. Yes, a river. The Navesink River.

If you're from the Rumson-Fair Haven area, then you've probably done it many times. It's another one of those traditions. And it's still a steadfast one. It's always been a sort of popularity litmus test.

And, with the dawn of sun-soaked days and a rebuilt Fair Haven Dock, the tradition continues, though in a more "hang out by the river" sort of way. A glimpse into today's adolescent dock days brings back a flood of memories.

Going as far back as when the, ahem, dinosaurs roamed the parking lot at Knollwood School, there were always two popularity tests: the non-verbal, head-nodding approval to stand in the cool kids' circle before school started; and, being asked to hang out at the Fair Haven Dock and jump in the river after school.

I don't think the cool kids even realized how cool they were. Still, they'd bestow invites to those who had promise for popularity. The scary test was whether or not you'd actually jump in or just stand around looking cool — or so you thought because of that blessed invite — and somehow avoid seaweed and crab drenched cut-offs and stylin', well-coiffed, cool girl hair.

The avoidance tended to work, since there were always a couple of show-off guys who took the spotlight — thank God!

After watching a few of their antics and getting some sought-after compliments on the great ribbon on your pony tail and matching bathing suit under the cut-offs that you almost had a pre-teen stroke coordinating, the popularity test was passed.

All it really took was some chatter about classroom nonsense, a little snacking on Doritos and cheer or two for the jumpers. OK, so the matching ribbon in the hair helped.
Decades later, the "popular" kids would tell you they don't ever recall being so cool or silently judgmental. To them, it was a rite of passage in which all were welcome to take part. Sure.

Well, no one seems to wear ribbons and matching bathing suits, much less Levi cut-offs anymore, but the dock days are still in full swing.

It wasn't long after the Hurricane Sandy-ravaged Fair Haven Dock was put back together again that they were baaaaack! The kids reveling in the joy of being an R-FH area pre-teen and hangin' at the dock and on the banks of the river.

Some things never change, and so many are grateful for that around here.
"This is our summer hang-out," an unknowing girl said as her and a group of buddies proceeded to show this editor why the dock is so special to them. Unknowning.

And so it goes … the dock days tradition. OK, so the outfits are a bit different and the oh, so cool Kate Hamilton is no longer there with her Nantucket rope bracelet — that was just the coolest. OK, Kate, you promised to bring one to me for the reunion!

While I wait for Kate's gift, check out these nouveau dock trend-setters. Priceless.

Editor's note: This is an opinion piece. While they recognize that it has been a very unofficial longstanding tradition, Fair Haven officials do not condone dock jumping and have advised that the area will be posted and patrolled to guard against it.

They encourage enjoying the dock and walking along the river, but jumping carries with it too much of an inherent risk, they told Patch. Especially since, Hurricane Sandy and the danger of debris in the waterways, they ask that any jumping that has occurred stop.