Trip #262 Mary Street, Southside Slopes, Pittsburgh took place on March 5, 2019, and was published on March 18, 2019.
I’m thinking about that expression, “the good old days.” For me, the days of long ago weren’t always so good; I much prefer where I am today over where I was ten or twenty years ago. Despite the fair amount of WTF?! happening in our world right now, I try to be hopeful in my outlook for the future, but I know this positivity comes from a place of reasonable comfort and security. When you’re feeling safe and cared for, having a forward-looking attitude comes more naturally. When days are dark, and you’re feeling left out, the temptation to look back and glamourize the past is strong. It’s an easy trap to fall into, and looking in the rear-view mirror often feels so good – until you crash into whatever it is that’s in front of you. And sometimes, that wake-up crash is necessary. It’s a message that says we need to stop looking back and start paying attention to what’s in front of us right now, and what’s coming up on the road ahead.
Field Notes: This sweet flight connects Mary Street down a steep drop. At this part, Mary dead ends as do many of the other streets running parallel to it. This is a quiet area above the train tracks but below Arlington Heights.
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!!
