Trip #277 Wakefield Street, South Oakland took place on April 11, 2019, and was published on April 22, 2019.
It would be a logical guess that Bob Dylan is responsible for the line, “what we have to be, is what we are” but in fact, the words were penned by Thomas Merton, an American Trappist monk, theologian, poet, and social activist of the twentieth century. As I walk down these city steps to enter the Shrine of the Blessed Mother (also known as “Our Lady of the Parkway”) I look at the shrine’s original statue of Mary. She has been here for decades and her face is lined and cracked, her cloak stained and dirty. Beyond Mary’s face, traffic is streaming, and the constant roar reminds me of the ocean. I think about Thomas Merton’s legacy and the times I’ve strayed from being who I am, and the results that followed. Life is short, and we spend much of it trying to achieve expectations set by others. Isn’t the greatest tragedy one of an authentic life not lived?
Field Notes: These steps, at the end of Wakefield Street, were built before the “Our Lady of the Parkway” shrine so I’m guessing houses once lined this hillside??
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!!
