It's a 'Burgh thing...

Back in mid-June, I packed my car and drove cross-country from Pacific Grove, California to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, and spent much of my adult life in Pittsburgh as well. At one point, someone asked what made me come back, with the emphasis on "made" - it was clear that person thought I would naturally prefer to be in California.

Dan Rooney

My friend seemed shocked when I indicated that it was my idea to return to Pittsburgh, and that I was happy to be home. I enjoyed the humidity, the rain, the clouds, and my dad's spaghetti and meatballs.

What I didn't say was that, although I'd had the thought that I might move back off and on for a long time, it was when Dan Rooney died in April, 2017, that I knew it was time to go home. I remember sitting there, watching live stream of his funeral on my computer, and experiencing a strong feeling that I should be there.

Strange, in a way, since I only met Mr. Rooney once, and that, briefly. I was at Steeler's training camp in Latrobe, dropping off some jerseys and footballs to be signed for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania. Mr. Rooney was there when I dropped them off, and came over to chat with me.  There is an unfortunate tendency for me to insert my foot into my mouth at moments like this, and sure enough, I managed to say something that was embarrassingly inaccurate.

Mr. Rooney gently corrected me, yet never made me feel stupid or wrong. In fact, he treated me as a friend he'd known for years, and with a kindness and compassion I've never forgotten. When I later read his autobiography, it was clear that his sense of humanity and humility was an everyday affair for him. It didn't prevent him from being an excellent businessman, but it is likely one of the things that made his peers value his opinion, his players revere him, and caused President Obama to name him ambassador to Ireland.

Dan Rooney and President Obama

View from the back porch

Once I returned to Pittsburgh, I found myself spending most of my free time in the summer on the screened in porch off the kitchen. When my parents had it originally built, it had a beautiful view into the wooded area behind the house, but at that time (20+ years ago) the trees were young and short. Now, it is like being in a treehouse, with occasional visits by the local extended family of wild turkeys.

Turkey convention at the corner of our property

As the weather gets colder, including last weekend when it got down to 19 degrees Farenheit, winter is unmistakably on its way. Do I miss the ocean? You bet. And I have no regrets. I'm home. I'm where I want to be, doing what I want to do - write, run workshops, and starting in February, teaching a weekly version of Gary's curriculum here in Pittsburgh. Thanks, Mr. Rooney - for your service, your kindness, your inspiration...

The first of six Lombardi trophies for the Steelers - picture taken on my first visit to Heinz Field