I have one distinct, vivid memory of the Wildwood Convention Center.
It was the scene of without question the single loudest noise I have ever heard in my life.
Had to be summer about 1974 or '75. Aerosmith. You get the idea. Enjoyed every ear-splitting second of it.
Usually at this time of year the rowdy Jersey shore town is tranquil, giving the locals the run of the town. Many of the stores are boarded up for the winter.
The legendary boardwalk is pretty much deserted.
Not tonight.
That's because the town is getting a very special visitor.
President Donald Trump is coming to town. "45" is throwing one of his Make America Great Again campaign rallies, at least in part as a bit of a payback to South Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew, who switched his party affiliation from Democrat to the GOP in December.
If you closed your eyes - and ignored all the winter coats - you'd think it was mid-July.
The town is going to be packed. It's next to impossible to find a hotel room. Stores that are normally closed for the winter have reopened. Restaurants are packed.
The convention center holds about 7,500. They are erecting big screens outside for the overflow audience to view the action. People started standing in line yesterday. You need a ticket to get in, but it's first-come, first-served.
The rally does not start until tonight at about 7. The doors open at 3, the rally officially starts at 5 and the president is expected to take the stage around 7.
President Trump is always talking about the effect he's had on the economy.
Give him this - he's certainly boosting Wildwood's usually sleepy mid-January outlook.
Now if only he could bring some 80-degree weather with him.
Comments