...Steelers! Here We Go! Lilywillow was "born" in Pittsburgh, PA in 2006 and now that we're raising her in Colorado I thought I'd take a moment to share a few of the things that I (personally) REALLY miss about "The Burgh" and that make LP+P's hometown pretty great.
Also...Flashdance was filmed there. Who doesn't love Flashdance?
Pittsburgh's downtown is centered right on this little point of land, at the convergence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. I miss saying the word "Monongahela" because it took me 6 years to say it correctly. Most people just call it "The Mon."
There are bridges EVERYWHERE and sometimes the most trying part of the day was deciding which bridge to take to work to avoid traffic. This approach never seemed to end well as every other downtown worker bee, forced to drive in, was attempting the same idea. I love you P-Town but I don't miss your drivers.
If you lived close enough most people walked, biked or "inclined" to work. The incline is basically a wooden box you sit in, with open windows, that goes up and down the crazy hills of Pittsburgh on this shockingly ancient metal track. Super steep, a little scary, unbelievable views, and always full of the most interesting graffiti.
I miss the food. This is a Primanti Brothers sandwich. Looks gross right? I thought so too until I tried it - any meat and cheese you want, on this thick gorgeous bread, topped with a "dry" slaw, and french fries. They put french fries on a sandwich! Then they squish everything together and hand it over on a piece of butcher paper. While probably blocking a few arteries, this is the yummiest sandwich goodness ever.
Some other personal food favorites from P-Town: The Chef Salad at Willow, the un-real, real guacamole of Mexico City (authetic Mexican food - no one speaks english), and the crab rangoon of China Sea. Quick note about China Sea...I dearly miss the happiest and friendliest non-Chinese take-out delivery guy on this planet. The first time he delivered, a 6'0" tall "white guy" in sweatpants I was a little afraid - we became best friends.
I miss you Yuengling. My very favorite beer on this planet with the exception of possibly one or two local brews...it's an utter travesty you are not available in CO and had I known this prior to moving I quite possibly would have reconsidered.
I miss Pittsburgh's sense of humor, the crazy words you use for everyday things, and that you rarely need more than two topics of conversation when striking up a chat with a total stranger. Two topics any 'Burgher can talk about at anytime (me included) - the weather and The Steelers.
I miss the Terrible Towel. One of the easiest and most educational ways to share the spirit of the Pittsburgh Steeler fan is to share the story of the terrible towel in the words of it's creator Myron Cope:
"Steelers were going into the 1975 playoffs, defending Super Bowl champs. I was ordered by my bosses “come up with a gimmick that will (huh?) intensely and blow up with the Steelers fans.” So, mah, I came up wit a Terrible Towel and I went on the air on TV and radio, they had two weeks, you know for me to get this thing done. Throwing towels around and sayin’ to the fans “bring a yellow, gold or black towel to the game, will ya’? And if you don’t have one, buy one. You don’t wanna buy one dye one. So you know just any face towel or somethin’ like that. And I had no idea what would happen, and I show up the first game, my goodness there’s not a towel to be seen in the whole joint. And pals are droppin’ by my radio booth, (huh?) me “you’re a loser again, Cope” haaa, so, what do ya’ know, the team comes ‘n appears in the tunnel for the introductions. From no where comes like 30,000 towels, yellow, black, gold towels. What were they sittin’ on them, were did they have them in their coats? I had no idea. And then the next year, it was put on there, the Terrible Towel, you know, but it was just a plain old towel. But that first game, a minimum of three miracles did he deliver, and I had said when I introduced him and threw towels on the anchorman on the 11:00 news, and I said “The Terrible Towel is poised to strike,” boy did he strike." - Myron Cope
Sounds totally crazy right - nope. That's Pittsburgh - you CAN'T live there, even for 6 short years and not come away a "Steeler Lifer."
You'll also note from the wording and grammar above, you learn a new language living in Pittsburgh - Pittsburghese. This language comes in extremely handy when you run into other Lifers in airports, in restaurants, bars, and stores. How do you know a Lifer if you see one? They will be wearing black and gold in some fashion 90% of the time, they have Steeler bumper stickers, license plates, pendants, and more, if it's game day they will be begging anyone with satellite television to turn the game on, and will have a T-Towel dangling from a belt loop or pocket.
That is what I love and miss about Pittsburgh.
P.S. To my true boyfriend Heinz Ward: The Black and Gold flag is flying out front, my terrible towel is ready to be waved, have a great game, and I'll leave the light on for you.
P.P.S. Bring the Yuengling.
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