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A Love Letter to Philly
Philadelphia. Old rusty sharp beautiful city of my birth. I'm leaving soon. I'm going somewhere without familiar things. Without jawns (just kidding, jawns are everywhere) and concrete stoops that seem to be made for the sole purpose of sitting, slouched with my elbows on my knees, chin resting on the heels of my palms, on sweaty summer nights where the only thing to do is sit and watch boys without shirts bike down streets to who knows where and young couples holding hands looking only at each other and old women who don't seem to be focused on much at all as they make their way down the street, walking the same route they've walked from somewhere to somewhere else for who knows how long.
Philly, you made me who I am. I learned everything I know about oppression and privilege and that particular fear that all women share from late night walks to the bus with friends through empty North Philly blocks and seeing cops hold up young black boys and putting sleeping homeless women in the backs of cars with sirens instead of warm beds and hearing men hiss at me while they follow for a few blocks until they decide that tonight is not the night and I am not the one. I have been immeasurably lucky.
You made me who I am Philly. I learned everything I know about love from you. From the beautiful mothers who gave me all the love they had, from the village that raised me and always made it clear I had a home and support and an ear for listening no matter what. To the friends I've had since I was very small, you have become apart of my bloodstream in a city where people stay in the same neighborhoods on the same blocks for generations. To the friends I've had since high school, in a city where running into someone from your past is never surprising, I will miss you.
I'm leaving soon, to live in a country I hadn't heard of until a few months ago, to learn a language I've never heard spoken and to teach children I don't know yet. But I know I'll be fine, because of you. I was raised by Philadelphia, and you gave me everything I need.
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| The trip was wonderful, by the way. Here I am with my beautiful grandma and aunt. |
