HUU Community Cafe

I remember well the Fourths when I was 10 to 12 years old in Pittsburgh, where I spent the summers with my father, my grandmother, and my father’s sisters. My father and I would arise early and after breakfast walk probably half a mile to Grandview avenue, that fabulous street that runs along the top of Mt. Washington and looks down on the panorama of downtown Pittsburgh, the Monongahela river below, the Allegheny river beyond the downtown, and the beginning of the Ohio river off to the left. We would take the Mt. Washington incline down to Carson street and catch a street car to Forbes field, home park of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team. We would watch the morning game of the holiday doubleheader

It was such a great pleasure for me to be going someplace with my father. The first time we went, he taught me how to keep track of the game on a little card, recording the hits, walks, etc. for each inning. It seems the Pirates always played Cincinnati and they always lost, even though these were glory days when the Pirates won two National League pennants. The big stars were Paul Waner and his younger brother, Lloyd, known as “big poison” and “little poison.” My father always took those losses in his wonderful relaxed, resigned way. It was only a game.

After the game we went home to a special, delicious dinner that my grandmother had fixed. And I was happy. JJG

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Annie’ s Run…that is what I call this little creek that runs next to my house and where this odd mix of a terrier played among the dragon flies and imaginary playmates at the water’s edge. I had this wonderful friend for almost 20 years. In the winter of 1999, while vacationing in a warmer climate to escape the mountain cold, I received a call from my house mate telling me that Annie had wandered off a few days earlier and that she and the neighbors had been unable to locate her. She probably had walked along the forest path that lead into the National Forest and being almost blind and deaf, she had lost her way. Annie was never found and for weeks, I had reoccurring dreams where she would be coming toward me but would disappear into a dense fog. Then one night, I dreamed of her. However, this time she was in a park somewhere in Brooklyn, NY (I have never even been to Brooklyn) playing in a green grassy area with a small boy. They ran, tumbled and ran some more. Annie was so happy ! And,I was at peace. I am blessed that I did not have to wait long for her to return to bring again so much love. Continue Reading »

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