The sub-title to this blog, gina piddles twiddles and resolves, comes from the musical 1776. I've only seen this musical once (Andrew and my family have done all they could to ensure there would be no second showing of my singing and dancing along to this historical glee-fest), but the phrase has stuck with me.*
In one of the opening scenes, John Adams laments the lack of progress made by the Second Continental Congress. Adams wants to declare independence from Britain, but finds that the other delegates are wasting their time.
He sings:
You see, we piddle, twiddle, and resolve
Not one damn thing do we solve
Piddle, twiddle, and resolve
Nothing's ever solved in
Foul, fetid, fuming, foggy, filthy
Philadelphia!
It has been almost a year since I moved to Philadelphia - at first it seemed like it was my 4th of July - I was setting out on my own, taking control of my destiny by enrolling in graduate school and starting a new job. I left behind my frustrations with John Jay (where I got my BA) and my job in NJ (where I dealt with a lot of BS) and started anew.
Soon after the excitement of moving settled down, I found myself cursing "foul, fetid, fuming, foggy, filthy Philadelphia." I had no interest in exploring or spending any time here, instead choosing to go back to NJ every weekend and straight to sleep after work. After a lot of piddling and twiddling, I realized that I'm not as miserable as I thought**. Things have been tough at times, but it isn't Philadelphia's fault. Even though my job has turned out to be a disappointment, I love having my own place and I love being back in school (I am too giddy when I get an A+ on an assignment). Philadelphia is not just a bunch of cranky librarians.
Philadelphia is the place where Andrew and I get to see each other almost every day. It's where Andrew and I have met some of the nicest people (see my pictures from the PHACT Jersey Devil Hunt). Philadelphia is where we've become running partners, study buddies and loving parents to a kitten named Eleanor Roosevelt. It's where I get to take a quick 10 minute walk over to Amanda's apartment to help her hunt for a mouse. It's where I can go to four different Starbucks within a 5 minute walk.
The point of this is - Philadelphia, I'm sorry. I didn't really give you a fair chance. So Philly, it's almost summer and I brought my bike from NJ and maybe sometime you and I could get to know each other? I don't think you're as foul or fetid as I've made you out to be. I am happy that I've renewed my lease for another year because this time I'm going to dig my roots deep into the ground.
*Ok, I also bought the soundtrack.
**"Man is unhappy because he doesn't know he's happy. It's only that." -Fyodor Dostoevsky