Trip #120 Holmes Street to Duncan Street, Upper Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh took place on April 1, 2018, and was published on April 13, 2018.
When we push and pull and try to exert our will over a situation, it can feel like we’re running after our own shadow – the faster we chase it, the faster it moves away. Despite KNOWING that life doesn’t always move at the pace we want it to, we struggle with this lesson time and again. It could be an injury we’re impatient to have healed, an accomplishment we want to “make happen,” or an inconveniently timed employment transition. But, if you think about, there are millions of things changing in the world every day that we never even notice because they occur within the natural flow of our lives. Remembering that hundreds of things are going our way when ONE BIG ONE isn’t, isn’t guaranteed to improve the situation but it’s certainly more satisfying than trying to grab on to that ever-elusive shadow.
Field Notes: The Holmes Street to Duncan Street sidewalk stairs on a very steep section of 53rd Street. There’s a newer flight of stairs on the other side of the street, but they are built against the buildings and don’t have a railing.
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
See the Risograph print of this photo and story in the Mis.Steps Shop.
Be a good neighbor! Have you visited these stairs and found them in poor condition or that illegal dumping (large items like tires, old furniture, and construction debris) and trash were abundant in the area? There are two things you can do to take action and make our city steps cleaner and safer for everyone! First, grab a photo if you can, and submit a report to Pittsburgh 311. All problems, both broken stairs, and railings, as well as trash and dumping, should be reported to the city. You can easily do this online or by calling. If the location has an abundance of illegal dumping and trash, also contact Allegheny Cleanways, letting them know the location and the nature of the garbage. Thank you!!
