Today Raleigh, North Carolina is my home. However, I grew up on the North Shore of Long Island in the “hamlet” of Rocky Point. I spent last week in Rocky Point, which looks a lot different than it did during the New York snowstorm in February.

Windmill at Southampton
Over the years I have tried researching literary connections in Rocky Point history, but I’ve been unsuccessful. Long Island history involving writers, on the other hand, is much easier to tap. You have F. Scott Fitzgerald who chose the North Shore as the setting for The Great Gatsby. There’s Walt Whitman who has been honored with a mall of his own name in Long Island’s own retail-centric way. (My first writing award was from the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association.) Tennessee Williams wrote some of his plays while staying in Southampton’s windmill. Just two towns over from my hometown, Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller would spend their summers together. (Remember, Marilyn was also a poet.) John Steinbeck, mostly known for his roots in Salinas, had a home in Southampton – from which he started his journey in Travels With Charley.
Those are just a few of the writers associated with Long Island’s history. Do you know of others?

Hallock Landing Beach
For now, here’s a look at Rocky Point…

Rocky Point’s Beaches
I run every morning and one day I ran down to the beach. I hate many things about Long Island, one is that you are not allowed to use a beach unless you pay. This makes me grumble! I decided to ignore this and ran on Hallock Beach – I did not see another person the entire time I was there! I figured if a permit police person showed up it would just make me run faster.
I always saw these trees around town growing up and never knew what they were. They look like raspberries and blackberries, but an Internet search has concluded these are mulberry trees.

Mulberry trees.

Hallock Cemetery
The Hallock family (thus the beach above) has big roots in Rocky Point, so they have their own cemetery.

Long Island lobster.
Summer on Long Island without lobster? It must be done!
With many month-end deadlines I had very little free time. I took one break to enjoy the new swing in my boyfriend’s parents’ yard.

A short break from blogging.
Beautiful setting…I can see why you’d like to go back often. Do you now if there are any Larry David or Jerry Seinfeld connections to this area? In the Seinfeld Show they occasionally ventured out of Manhattan, but usually to places like the Hamptons.
That’s so funny, Bill! I didn’t intend to give that impression. I do not like Long Island! I only visit to spend time with the love of my life who happens to be living there right now.
Oh, and, yes. Seinfeld, as well as the Baldwin brothers, are from Massapequa. 🙂 Billy Crystal is a LI guy too…and as far as songwriters go, Billy Joel of course!
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