Most Pittsburghers would likely agree that growing up in Pittsburgh was pretty special. After all, we lay claim to one of the best children's entertainers (Mister Rogers), amusement parks (Idlewild and Kennywood Park), sports teams, and parks. What more could we want? But, growing up in Pittsburgh may also have resulted in these 13 unique side effects.
1. You know how to pronounce Monongahela…
And you know it’s both a city and a river.
2. Duquesne and…
Whether you travel through Duquesne, pay your electric bill to Duquesne Light every month, or attended Duquesne University, you know the S is silent.
3. Zelienople.
You don’t have to think twice about how to say or to spell Zelienople, though you might not know exactly where it is on the map.
4. You don’t look twice when you notice a driverless car or…
Uber’s driverless cars are starting to become commonplace in the Burgh. No big deal.
5. Someone dipping fries into green or purple ketchup.
That’s just as normal as eating fries and coleslaw on a sandwich or fries on a salad. Just another day in Pittsburgh.
6. You know the best time to go grocery shopping is during a Steelers game and…
Just about everyone’s in front of the TV or in the stands on Steelers’ Sunday. But, if you want to avoid the crowds at Giant Eagle and Shop ‘N Save, you know you’ll virtually have the store all to yourself when you go shopping during a Steelers game.
7. You avoid the grocery stores when the weathermen call for snow.
You throw your head back and laugh at the panic of others rushing to the grocery store for bread, milk, and toilet paper. Or, you actually have run out of the essentials at just the wrong time and head to the packed grocery stores.
8. You’re always on alert for deer when you drive and…
You know that a family of deer can leap in front of your car at a moment’s notice and at just about any time of the year. You’re always ready to hit the brakes when those majestic creatures make an appearance.
9. Maneuver potholes like a pro.
Potholes are a constant problem in and around Pittsburgh. To avoid damage to your car, you’ve learned to maneuver those pesky potholes like a pro.
10. You say Kennywood’s open and…
You notice someone’s fly is open. You don’t tell them that. You instinctively say, Kennywood’s open, fully expecting them to know what you mean.
11. Still go to your school district’s Kennywood picnic every year.
The annual school Kennywood picnic is a longtime tradition in the Burgh. And, even if you don’t have kids in the district anymore, you’ll still go to Kennywood on the district’s picnic day to see old friends, former classmates, and former teachers.
12. You don’t know what it means to lose and…
You have to look up the word lose in the dictionary. Really, it has very little meaning to you. After all, you’ve grown up in a city of winners. Just look at the Penguins and all that Pittsburghers have accomplished.
13. You will always be a Pittsburgher at heart no matter where you go.
You know the old cliché. You can take the kid out of Pittsburgh but you can’t take Pittsburgh out of the kid. No matter where you go, a piece of your heart will always remain in Pittsburgh. And, you’ll always seek out other Pittsburghers no matter where in the world you go.
Pittsburghers know there are just some things that only happen in the Burgh and, as a result of growing up in Pittsburgh, we all deal with some rather, um, unique side effects.
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