Remembering way, way, way back when I was a boy living about eight miles south of Butler, Pennsylvania, on most nights, depending on the weather, flashes of light could be seen in the southern skies. Could it be a bad storm coming our way? No, the sky was clear. Was it "heat lightning"? No, there really isn't such a thing. Heat lightning is from a thunder storm too far away to see the clouds. Could it be some strange atmospheric aberration? No, it was none of the above.
Although we were about 30 miles from Pittsburgh, we could plainly see the flashes of light produced from the open hearth method of steel making. That was quite a sight and the men who worked there must have been quite tough to take the heat and blaring light. Back then, Pittsburgh was a dirty town. Soot from the steel mills blackened everything. I was really pleasantly surprised when many years after moving away from the area, I had to spend a week in Pittsburgh on business and stayed right in the Golden Triangle. I couldn't believe the transformation. What a difference. It was hard to believe that it was the same place I remembered as a kid. Way to go, Pittsburgh. But, the dirt and flashes at night meant money and jobs. Now a lot of those jobs have gone to other countries. Both situations have draw backs, but I want you to have a great situation today, you hear?
When in h/school, a group of us were at the park after dark, and saw these strange never seen before, streaks of colored lights in the North. Scared us for sure, we took off really fast. lol,,, Heard later it was probably the Northern Lights way down here. Never happened again tho. Strange, huh?
ReplyDeleteThey are really rare down here but every so often the northern lihgts can be seen this far south. I have seen them but never after I moved down here.
DeleteThat was back when we made things in the US. When I had flashes in the sky it used to mean the paper mill blew up again and I'd have to go to work. Of course, that's closed now too.
ReplyDeleteYep, back when we made things is right. Being a fireman, I guess any flash in the sky would get your attention.
DeleteOne of our daughters lives just outside of Pittsburgh.. North Huntingdon. Her complaint is that she's afraid to drive over bridges (go figure) and she has to go over a bridge no matter which direction she goes. My folks wanted a boy and didn't have a name for me... the doctor said that Sharon, PA was the prettiest town he'd ever been in... I finally got there sometime between age 55-60... Boy! Was I in for a letdown! I just hoped I'd aged better than that town! As for the lights at night... guess I better stay up later than I do ;-)
ReplyDeletePittssburgh has lots and lots of bridges. Some over water and some over land and they used to have one that went no where. The famous bridge to no where.
DeleteI don't live too far from Hobby airport, so I'm always seeing lights in the sky. A clear sky here in Houston is a rarity!
ReplyDeleteI have flown in and out of both airports. I suppose the noise could get a little loud at times.
DeleteWe should have kept the steel mills and figured a way to clean them up. A service economy won't ever be as good as a manufacturing economy. But we Americans have to start demanding products made in the USA. Small companies are starting up all over the country, but they can't compete with Walmart.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree with you. It seems like no one cares anymore.
DeleteI'm optimistic that made in the USA will be the norm... I care and look for USA products. What ticks me off the most is having to talk with people from another country about my credit report ... you see that segment on 60 Minutes? think it was 60 minutes... one of the news shows ... unbelievable ... and having to deal with support for whatever ... from someone who not only doesn't speak southern but with accents I can't begin to understand.
ReplyDeletebring all our stuff back home... that's what I say... dammit