City Girl

YOU CAN TAKE THE GIRL OUT OF THE CITY,
BUT YOU CAN’T TAKE THE CITY OUT OF THE GIRL

I know this phrase all too well as someone who now lives just over the bridge in New Jersey, but grew up in South Philly. Everyday, especially recently, I have a deep urge to move back into the city. Maybe it’s the convenience, maybe it’s being closer to friends, but whatever the reason, my roots are in the City of Brotherly Love and it will always remain close to my heart. I think anyone who was raised in a city – maybe not necessarily just Philadelphia - have similar feelings about the urban setting of their hometown.  

There are obviously a variety of different, yet unique aspects of both Philadelphia and New Jersey, but this city girl still has a hard time getting used to the following:

Grass. Even though I’m allergic to the ever present green stuff, I’m just not a fan of it either. This may sound strange, but if I had the choice, concrete would supercede grass any day. Maybe it’s because I’m used to cement or maybe it’s because you can tell whether it’s clean or not. Maybe it’s because I grew up on a small street in the city where I sometimes walked barefoot along the sidewalks (trust me, they were clean because my mom was always out sweeping and washing the pavement). But, whatever the reason, my main concern about grass is what lies underneath the soil. Just think about it for a second. If worms can find there way out onto the sidewalk when it rains, imagine what else is hidden between those blades. The unknown bothers me the most, but I don't enjoy how it feels under my feet either. One thing’s for sure, I can’t walk barefoot on grass and you will never find me sitting on it without a blanket. To keep it simple, I skeeve it.

Bugs. The second thing I’m not the best with are bugs. I would like to think most females are not too great with the little creatures, but can’t be totally sure. This may sound gross, especially since I already spilled my feelings on the grassy subject. But, if I saw a cockroach, silver fish or spider, I would probably be fine and be adept at handling the situation. See, I’m familiar with these insects. It’s the exotic (I couldn't think of a better adjective) bugs I don’t know nor have ever heard of that’s the problem. A few years ago during a game of miniature golf near my house, I almost stepped on and killed (not on purpose) a praying mantis simply because it looked like a twig to my untrained eye. That was until the stick insect moved. As a result of this incident, I learned although there isn't a fine for killing a manti, it's not a good practice since they are great for gardeners. 

Circles. Enough said. The state of New Jersey has even started to realize this design might not have been the most effective. Instead, they've been converting many into four or five way (sometimes confusing) intersections. It’s also not safe when the car in front of you fails to keep up with the flow of traffic and breaks abruptly. 

Wildlife. I am extremely environmentally and eco-friendly. Just ask my parents. They'll tell you I preach – every now and again – about the importance of recycling for future generations. I think chopping down forests or vast areas of land for our own benefit is selfish. We should keep these areas for animals to roam since we've already taken to over crowding their original territory. Anyway, because of the latter, one of my biggest fears are random animals – mainly deer – jumping out into traffic. Even though I live in a rather developed area, I feel like they hang out in my backyard, more or less. With no place to go, they walk or jump across the roads we regularly travel. Whether it’s a small side street or a major highway, it’s still scary and probably one of my biggest fears when driving at night. And, yes, I’ve been privy to deer and other albeit smaller animals jumping in front of my car on more than one occasion.

Convenience. Most places in the Garden State are not in close proximity to each other. There isn't the convenience of a corner store unless you want to walk along streets without sidewalks or cross major intersections along the way. This is probably what I miss the most about the city. I miss the little things like walking over to a friend's house, talking to my neighbors or picking up groceries at the corner store. Instead, I drive almost everywhere. Thank goodness I have a reliable car!

My pet peeves are just one or two reasons why I love Philadelphia and cities in general. They may not be the cleanliest, but they sure are unique. I LOVE my town! Even though a few details have taken time to get used to, Jersey has etched out its own well-deserved space in my life over the years! But, that's for another post.    

I thought it would be perfect to finish with a few great shots my grad school friend, Sally, took during her visit in 2007. Even though it was a few years ago, the pictures are timeless. She definitely captured Philadelphia's distinct history and unique characteristics.

With

Love,

Philadelphia

XOXO