Why I love Philadelphia – Philly
“outside the box”
Writers Group Assignment - August 2013
The parades. The museums. The theaters. The Mann and Kimmel
Centers, Reading Terminal, The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, The Seaport
Museum, The Michelou, The USS America, The Spirit of Philadelphia, and the
water front. The Eagles, Phillies, Flyers, the 76’ers, and let us not forget the statue of "Rocky", his fists perpetually risen to the sky on muscular arms, in front of the Museum of Art – all wonderful reasons
to love Philadelphia!
But, those are the obvious ones. There is another side to Philly that often
goes unappreciated, or not appreciated enough!
The Wissahickon Creek and Park, the massive stone statues of
the Quaker, and the Indian chief Tediescum set high on the hills in the park. The
finger bridge, the red covered bridge and the wonderful stone bridges that
cross the creek, with historic Valley Green Inn nestled quietly beside it, with
diners gently clinking glasses of iced tea on the front terrace. Joggers,
walkers, mothers pushing upscale strollers with their babies strapped safely
in. Move over! Here come two horses with their riders cheerfully talking back
and forth with each other. A few walkers
take out their camera phones and snap a few pictures, as the riders greet them
with shy smiles. With the Monastery and Northwestern stables at each end of the
park, horses are a common sight. In fact, “Forbidden Drive” meant at one time, “No
cars or other mechanical moving machines on this drive. It is intended for horses and
riders only.”
The plaintive call of
a red tailed hawk, the scatter of a chipmunk making a mad dash across Forbidden
Drive, weaving in and out between people and dogs and baby strollers, and too many bicycles to count! Ducks, geese, birds of many species all vying
for their place on the water, hoping to catch a fish in the shallow, cool
waters of the creek.
Looking out my front door and seeing a herd of horses,
burros, and sometimes a llama or two – and knowing that my mailing address says
“Philadelphia, PA” makes me smile a goofy grin! A huge city, no less! Yet, I expect to
see Rebbecca of Sunny brook farm picking up chestnuts off the ground, dropped by
the aging chestnut trees that border Saul Agricultural School Field.I am fortunate enough to live very close by to Saul School; its sprawling fields are my amphitheater. It is the only school of its type on the entire east coast, as it proudly calls Philadelphia its home.
The antique car shows that spring up now and then around the
area like wild mushrooms that grow overnight! The wonderful festivals that
honor all sorts of things: holidays, cultures, ethnic groups, and the greatest
ethnic gathering of all, St. Patrick’s Day parade, at which time everyone
becomes Irish! And the Mummers! Unique to Philly, the Mummers are in a class of
entertainment by themselves.Wild colors, toe-tapping, foot stomping music fills the streets, as people do the "Philly Strut" along with dancing marchers. It is a spectacle to behold!
Let us not forget King of Prussia Mall, at one time the
largest mall in the entire country! Even though I hardly ever go there, it is
nice to know that it is waiting for me to return whenever the need to do so may
arise. Speaking of Malls, there are so many within a 30 mile radius that it
almost seems ludicrous! This just doesn’t happen in a sleepy little upstate NY
community, such as the one I hailed from.
Cheese steaks, soft pretzels with mustard, macaroni and
cheese served with diced tomatoes, and pork loin served on New Year’s Day –
plus the absolutely must-do corned beef and cabbage on St. Paddy’s day.
Everything in this essay is a part of the tapestry that
makes up wonderful Philadelphia
– and I for one am very happy and proud to be a part of it!
44 different Philly
‘attractions’ mentioned
51 if you add in the
ducks, geese, birds, horses, llamas, dogs, and chipmunk!
