COBL
Came across an interesting blog today. Funny what you find when you ain't looking. This one is beautifully illustrated by the blogger himself, which I found interesting in and of itself, but just as interesting was the textual content of his site. Seems Herb is from my old neighborhood.
He waxes nostalgic. About Philadelphia, of all places! I spent a lot of time in North Philly, West Philly, Fishtown, & South Philly. At various stages of my updragging I lived, schooled, and worked in most areas of the City of Brotherly Love.
Herb speaks of the Depression era. I came along a bit after that. My earliest recollections are of my home in the shadow of the Hardwick & McGee Carpet Company. In moments of lucidity I realize the Good Old Days weren’t that great. But the nostalgia is.
In my Philly memories the smells of Gretz Brewery, Coffee roasting on Germantown Avenue, Bread, and Soft Pretzel Bakeries, and even the Pig Yard just hang back there in the damp recesses of my mind. The taste of Butter Rum Cake, Taylor’s Pork Roll, Steak Hoagies from Madeline’s, or Rosie’s Luncheonette. I thank Herb for triggering it all very unexpectedly.
As I tell my daughters~ “I could go on, and on, and on, .... but I won’t” I wonder if the City is still generating that thing we call ‘Nostalgia’? Somehow I doubt it.
Hey, check out: http://herbmandel.blogspot.com
