For most of my adult life I have lived in the South. I attended The University of Virginia, The University of South Carolina, and lived in North Carolina for years. First, I lived in Charlotte, and then I lived in Raleigh. Then eight years ago, I exchanged Carolina blue skies for a life in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It’s been a good move, but I always regret it in the winter. Indeed, when I first moved here people kept asking me, “Why did you move here?!”
Apparently, nobody is making that trade. For decades, there has been a steady flow of Northerners moving South. When you spend your entire life in the north you dream about more mild winters. And when you live in Pittsburgh, you constantly long for blue skies. I had a steady supply of good weather in North Carolina and I gave it all up. Life is more than sunny days though. At least that’s what I tell myself…
What Pittsburgh lacks in good weather, it makes up for in charm.
What Pittsburgh lacks in good weather, it makes up for in charm. Also, moving here has been a professional and personal bonus for me. I exchanged the billable hours of a law firm for the more reasonable hours of in-house law practice. I also got the opportunity to do some really interesting, cutting edge work. And, if you have ever read this blog, you know that I fell in love with a Pittsburgh guy. And together we produced the toddler. Had I stayed in North Carolina, life would have continued to be good, but I would not be living this life. And this life is a blessed one!
Still, despite all of my blessings, come winter, I miss North Carolina desperately!
Well, every once in awhile Pittsburgh gets a surprisingly warm winter day. I like to think of it as God’s gift to me. Yesterday was one of those days. On Saturday, January 12th, it was 63 degrees in Pittsburgh. So far, it has been my favorite day of the year.
Running and the playground are great on nice days!
When the toddler woke up she asked to play “slide”. That’s where we use a blanket to create a slide for her and she slides down. Although, gravity and the weave of the blanket interferes with her ability to go fast, she really likes playing “slide” and asks us to play all of the time. Yesterday, for the first time in a while I was able to tell her, “How about we go to the slide at the playground?!”
She said, “Park? OK!” Then, she commenced to stripping down to her Pampers
She said, “Park? OK!” Then, she commenced to stripping down to her Pampers
Fortunately, I am over my cold. So, the three of us got dressed. As we do on nice days, we went for a run by the river. While we were discussing what route to take, the toddler said, “How about park???” She’s a lady with a one track mind! Lest you feel sorry that we deprived the toddler, eventually, we did make it to the park.
When you live in a place that doesn’t have great weather, you have to make the most of the surprise nice days. And while I care deeply about the environment and am concerned about the melting arctic ice caps, I thoroughly enjoyed this sunshine!
Despite his objections, I had Andre take a photo of me and the toddler. One of the things that Pittsburgh has, that neither Raleigh nor Charlotte had, is a great view of the river.
How were things in your world this weekend???
Here's the photo of the toddler and me at the river.
Here's the photo of the toddler and me at the river.
Comments