Trip #20 Diulius Way, Central Oakland, Pittsburgh took place on July 22, 2017, and was published on August 18, 2017.
Something in the air reminded me of that summer when Lisa and I played together almost every day. I would run across the street as soon as breakfast was over and it was hours of swing set, sandbox, sitting in the grass, eating goldfish crackers, playing hide-n-seek. As I remember it, on the final day, the air was damp and thick. The sky said rain and the wind made the hair on my forearms stand up. We picked cucumbers from her mother’s garden and sat on the stairs eating them. I was 12, she was 10, and in a flash, I saw that everything was about to change; this would be the last summer of our being children together. I willed myself not to forget the wind on my arms, the sweet taste of cucumber, the spittle of raindrops, her face. I remembered it for both of us.
Field Notes: Came on this trip with Elizabeth. It was so much fun to bring a friend along and she really enjoyed exploring this hidden little neighborhood.
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!!
