On Loyalty

I am loyal to Seattle. I defend it's raininess, I admit it does rain.  I stand up for it's poor baseball team while distracting  you with the thought of garlic fries at Safeco (and Shishka-berries....and those good stadium brats next to the secret escalator).  And, I acknowledge that while Seattle does have it's faults, I love it truly anyways. 

Which, is why I also love Pittsburgh. 

In Pittsburgh, you are proud of where you're from, but still give your home a hard time.  You bust it's balls.  You boo when you need to.  You call it out if need be.   You don't make excuses, you don't coddle it and make it a sissy city.

Burghers know that the Pirates are approaching their 18th year of losing seasons. They know it.  Yes, in the back of their mind they're thinking, "Well maybe we can get to .500....." but quickly change the subject to the Steelers (well, maybe not right now), OR the Penguins. 

They know that the city is a gem.  But, they're still open to sharing it.  Living in Central Pennsylvania for over 2 years, I can strongly state that people here are douchebags.  Straight up, loaded douchebags.  You know why?  Because they're mean!!  They don't care about you if you're not from here, and their left over PA-dutchness just translates into unfriendliness.  This is a known fact, I'm not being dramatic here.  I can be a successful nurse anywhere now, because I have tolerated and put up with Central PA nurses.  They're as harsh as they come.  PITTSBURGH on the otherhand isn't like that.  They like you. They'll toss you a beer and invite you over to their house.  They'll share their kishka with you.  It's a whole other world. 

SO, in summary, I heart Pittsburgh because their people are welcoming, they are in love with their city, but they're realistic about it's contents. 

Seattle, sometimes you just don't stack up.  NOW, I'm not comparing you to Pittsburgh, because Pitt doesn't have mountains or Tom Douglas, so they're automatically eliminated. 

But sometimes, you're kinda wussy.

For instance:

1) In June of 2007, K and I attended a legendary Mariners vs Pirates baseball game at Safeco.  Now, if you remember from above, the Pirates have had 17 back to back to back to...well you get it, losing seasons.  The last time they had a winning season, Johnny Carson was hosting the tonight show.  I digress....
My point is, we should have won.  We were close to winning. There was a point in the game where a rally was all they needed to win.  The music was thumping, our best of the best was up to bat, the Pirates were getting that familiar feeling in their stomachs again.  And do you know what happened?  PEOPLE JUST SAT THERE!!!!!! No rally. No standing, no yelling, no clapping. Nothing. 

Sometimes, Seattle, your lack of enthusiasm upsets me.  Seattle pride is sometimes nonexistent. 

2) Communication.   I love K so much because he's a sarcastic son of a bitch.  He'll dish it and take it, and give a high five for a good zinger.  Seattle, not so much.  I was sarcastic before I met the man of my dreams, but now, holy goat, I cut it up.  Which, makes me kinda sad, Seattle, because you could be so much more.  Out there, people take things kind of literally.  They're removed from that East Coast way of life, and are more laid back.  Which isn't a bad thing in a lot of ways, but when it comes to good  sarcasm, I have to look elsewhere. 

 Seattlelites: when people give you a hard time about something in Seattle, you take it personally and defend it, rather than giving it back.  Give it back!!  If someone asks you how many Super Bowl rings you have, ask them how Big Ben is doing.  Oh, sorry honey.  Really, I'm sorry!

3) Finally, dependability.  Out here (Pittsburgh and beyond), you just don't do certain things.  IF you say you're going to be somewhere, you're there.  If you say "I'll meet you at..... for....." you're there.  Friendships are like family.  I'm lucky because K has a loyal group of great friends, who will be there for you, defend you, take out someone if need be, etc.  They don't pull stunts.  They don't bullshit around.  They're present, they don't make excuses.  They're loyal BECAUSE loyalty translates through city, family, and friends.  Pittsburgh has that down pat.  Seattle, is kinda wishy-washy sometimes.  People do make excuses.  Friends are disposable.  Some people ask how you're doing just to be in the loop.  I would say that this is Seattle's biggest flaw. 

And I'm calling them out. Because, to really love a city, to be loyal to it, you have to understand it's weaknesses.  That doesn't mean you're turning your back on it.  If I had my way, I'd incorporate more people from Pittsburgh to Seattle.  Then I'd have mountains and great friends all in one little metropolis. 

I love you Seattle. I love you Pittsburgh. 

We all, like our cities, lack in certain areas, but to fully grow, we can't deny them.

Again, I'm sorry K. That was out of line.  =)