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| In 1938, urban sociologist Louis Wirth wrote ‘Urbanism As A Way of Life,’ an essay criticizing the built environment for creating a social structure that, while tolerant of many differences, is bleak and disenfranchised. With a mind towards the bustling city Wirth writes:
The necessary frequent movement of great numbers of individuals in a congested habitat gives occasion to friction and irritation. Nervous tensions which derive from such personal frustrations are accentuated by the rapid tempo and the complicated technology under which life in dense areas must be lived (Wirth, 16).
In most cases I agree with Louis Wirth, sometimes the quick tap of high heels and swish of wool slacks coupled with the waka waka waka of sirens, sometimes makes my life more like a continuous game of Pac-Man. But all joking and old-timey video game references aside, Wirth must not have been thinking of 2009 Pittsburgh.
Contrary to Wirth, I usually feel most relaxed when I’m in the city. Even in the summer, when my neighbors across the have the song ‘Wild Wild West’ playing so loudly on infinite repeat that I would like to buy a dozen roosters for the ambiance, even then I still find solace in the city. Having an airy hammock hanging in the shady spot under my deck, with a cooler in close proximity, well that doesn’t hurt either.
But this is March! A little blustery for hammock season, so what do I do to distance myself from the busy stiffs downtown? Pinochle? Jogging in place? Needlepoint? Who said Air Guitaring? All productive interests, sure, but not quite as interesting as sledding through a cemetery.
A few weeks ago, when Pittsburgh still had a hearty covering of snow, a couple friends and I took a hike from the security of our blankets and couch cushion forts in the valley to the best open hilltop around. Four staircases, and a few miles of vertical gain, later we reached the gates of the St. Stan Cemetery in Spring Hill. Considering the relatively low number of juveniles residing in the Spring Hill area, not one pair of boot tracks marred the hill’s surface.
Passing through a break in wire fencing, and over a threshold or two, I rehearsed a couple of ‘Glory Be’s’ both as a courtesy for those resting, and as a measure of insurance against prematurely joining them.
With the good graces of the interred, we managed to find a clean line from 3/4‘s up the hill. Free of headstones and other granite memorials, we put gleaming, polished steel runner to untouched snow and enjoyed the ride for a few leisurely, ‘friction, and irritation-less’ hours before descending back into the hustle and the bustle.
This recent reflection upon snow and city life has piqued one important question:
Where can you find Pittsburgh’s best sledding? | |   | |  | | | Comments | | City Sledding | |
| | Very interesting reading. Most people don''t think you could sled in the city, unless it was in a city park.
As a kid growing up in a large NJ city, at the first covering of snow (and before the city plows set out), we used to visit the one or two streets in the neighborhood that had some elevation pulling our trusty steel-runner sleds, cardboard boxes, and whatever else would slide.
We had so much fun that the neighborhood elders would love to sit out on thier porches and watch us pile three-high on one sled, only to tumble apart half-way down the hill, then bust out in laughter that could be heard blocks away. Sometimes, one or two of the more courageous parents would give it a-go and show us young folk "how it was done". It created a real sense of community, even after the snow melted away.
So to read about how industrious these Pitt sledders were in utilizing the cemetary, makes me envious in not thinking about doing that way back then. Not only did they apply a creative use of the urban landscape, I would bet you that the surrounding neighbors were peaking out of the windows, laughing, and even thinking about getting out to "give it a try." Who knows, they may even put down the first boot prints next time? | | | SLEDDING | |
| | What an enjoyable article!! Reading this reminds us all to enjoy the day, each and every one. When you venture outdoors, the Peter Pan in all of us seems to surface! Have fun! | |
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