Trip #522 Griffin Street to Burson Way, Mount Washington, Pittsburgh took place on November 13, 2020, and was published on December 4, 2020.
We’re often surprised when a person we admire walks away from what appears to be an incredible opportunity or desirable lifestyle. How could they possibly turn their back on a position so many envy and strive to attain? The answer might be that from a distance, “success” appears more impressive, incredible, and memorable than it does once it’s been achieved. We often set our sights on the finish line before fully understanding how the steps needed to reach it may push and pull us in ways we’re not entirely comfortable with. Realizing that “living the dream” is no longer the right choice can be painful and painstaking, but goals of all shapes and sizes are moving targets, not stationary objects. We decide how to prioritize them and, more importantly, where we want to situate ourselves and our wellbeing.
Field Notes: This flight is the sidewalk steps that lead down to #523. It’s a quiet street of homes with front porches featuring a mix of Halloween and holiday decorations AND some elections signs, This house displaying a Biden-Harris one in their front window.
Love city steps? Get yourself the latest issue of Mis.Steps: Our Missed Connections with Pittsburgh’s City Steps! Each copy is unique and features 10 randomly selected “trading cards” of Pittsburgh’s 739 public stairways. Visit the Mis.Steps online store to see all issues and place your order.
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
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.
