Christiane, this is too funny! I "married into" western PA - my ex-dh lived in LB his whole life (we met on vacation). He graduated from Burrell High in '75 - think he still holds some kind of golfing record there. He was a volunteer firefighter for LB from the time he was 18 - and then he tested for and won a spot on the professional fd here in Cincy, so we moved back here (back, for me, anyway - quite a culture shock for him).
We lived in Cedarcrest Apts, on Puckety Church Road, from '81-'84, when we moved back to my hometown, Cincinnati. He was a "mill hunk" at Allegheny Ludlum. His mom still lives on Grove Drive, just half a block from what used to be the elementary school. My ex-brother-in-law and niece and nephew are in Vandergrift - nephew is finishing up at PSNK. My f-i-law retired from PPG in Ford City (passed away in '93 - a very good man) and he loved to take us out to dinner at a family-owned restaurant there - can't remember the name...
It was a different world - besides the "language barrier"! (BTW, years ago I orderd a mug from the Pitts-Post Gazette, that had all the local "pronunciations" - like "dahntahn", "Stillers", etc - cracked me up! I should have kept it....)
I loved the frozen custard we could get in Springdale in the summer, and the dairy freeze on 156 - "Edy's"? I worked for a while at "Monkey Ward's" - don't even know if it's still there. Used to shop at Hillcrest Plaza, Natrona Hts (there was a Horne's at that time), and, when I felt like driving, I'd go to Monroeville or Greensburg malls - needed a dose of "real" shopping! I even found my way to Shadyside and Squirrel Hill and Oakland - sometimes, I just needed to feel like I was in the city - I loved the atmosphere and especially the art galleries in Shadyside. Oh, and there was a great Mystery Lovers Book Store in Oakmont - it was my favorite place! Of course, I made the trek with a car full of gals to the Reading Outlet Mall - came back loaded with Vanity Fair nightgowns, etc.
My m-i-law was / is a fantastic cook - she made 600 of the most beautiful cookies for our wedding reception! Her cabbage rolls were the best, too (guess that's out for now!). Their family was Polish / Ukrainian so I'm sure you know what the food was like! Something good was always on the stove or in the 'fridge! (Unlike my home, where something might have been on the stove or in the fridge, but it wasn't necessarily "good"!)
I haven't been back in nine years - but I'd love to grab a friend and make a road trip now that I'm writing about it. (We were separated in '96, div in '01 - still healing from it - felt like there was an amputation from half my family. My b-in-law brought my niece to see me last year - guess it's my turn, but I'd sure need some moral support).
Well, this has been fun! Keep us posted!
Blessings, Kaybee C
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