I've never been to Philly. But I worked for five years in Germany as public affairs officer for the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia - Europe, under the command of the Defense Logistics Agency.
DSCPE. We were a world-wide "purple suit" Defense organization - all services.
So DSCPE's kingdom was ruled from DSCP in Philly. The first time Philly called and I picked up the phone, I was sure the mob had dialed the wrong number.
"Yo, Philly here. Who my talkin' at?"
"This is the FBI. Are you sure you have the correct number?"
But I enjoyed talkin' wit da mobsters from Philly. And when they came to visit, usually with a Navy Admiral or an Air Force general officer in tow, we showed them a good time. Even taught them some German.
How's the schnitzel? "Dat shumcked gut." (Das hat gut geschmeckt)
They always threatened they were going to bring me back to Philly. Wish now that I'd taken them up on the offer.
Great one, thanks! I agree with you that the Philadelphian pronunciation of Lancaster, PA is like the Lancaster, California or Ohio pronunciation, even though it's only 1-1/2 hours away. I grew up in Lancaster, and yes we do pronounce it quite a bit shorter - two syllables instead of 3, with different sound for the "a". Of course I think it sounds much cooler our way! In college I had to teach my boyfriend from Drexel Hill how to say it :)
This summer I stayed at a hotel across from the train station in Brive-la-Gaillarde and never heard the trains because they're so very quiet, but I did hear the SNCF jingle.... it's the sounds that stay with us!
Reading your post I couldn't help but think of Frank Rizzo, who was mayor of Philadelphia when I lived there. I can still recall his Philly accent, remembering when on local television he confronted a reporter who was camped out in front of his home. Rizzo belligerently accused the reporter of being a "crumb-creep-lush-coward" and said he wanted to fight him. I also remember the smells of the city ... like the soft pretzels when you got the train at 30th Street Station.
Nice read. I’m from Boston and have lived abroad for many years. You described very well the feeling of “home” that lives in the sounds. Every time I go back to Boston I always love those first few moments when, even after all these years everything feels familiar. When the customs officer asks for your passport with a “howaya” then hands it back with “have a good one”. It always makes me smile.
Then….i walk through the doors and it’s the smell of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. Ahhhhh Yes, I’m back 😊
Yes, the sounds... that one misses from elsewhere no matter where you go, or end up.
I'd already figured out that when I move (to france), it's the music and sounds from here that I'll ache for the most. And how 'Mericans' interact with them. (Can you imagine French movie-goers talking back to the screen for the whole length of a movie???? Ha!)
Philly music, you hear it, you know where the musicians come from.
I'm really NY and Chicago (on my American side) myself, despite having now lived for years in Boston/New England.
But I'd been hankering for a "real" pizza slice (i.e., NY) for months! (Sorry, they're not good up here...fuggedabowdid)... Last week, driving through NY, strip mall...YAAS! A real pizza slice! In all its sinfulness! Topped off later on down the road with a dairy queen.
Ok, I know that's not a reasonable diet...and in general, I'm more partial to eating in France... but every once in a great while...
Beautiful piece, Thérèse....
Thank you.
Don't all those colors and memories make us smile, despite it all?
Wonderful post. It's true that those sounds stay with you. I grew up in the SF Bay Area, and I'm old, so we listened to the radio. I love the Starship song "We Built This City" - yeah, I know, everyone hates it, but the parts where they play clips from the SF radio station - that's like home for me.
Living just outside Philly looking towards France-- this was absolute perfection. I don't know if this is a Philly thing or just South Jersey --- but I hear-- from my clients --a great deal of "Dat" for "That."
Theresa, A truly fantastic post this morning! Your incorporation of clips that capture the various sounds of Philly is just one of many features that makes this piece (of course your talents as a wordsmith always distinguishes your postings). I am only a hundred miles away, but you made me nostalgic. (I used to be "accentless," but I picked up parts of Eddie's New York accent and now Phil's Midwestern use of "come with")
I've never been to Philly. But I worked for five years in Germany as public affairs officer for the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia - Europe, under the command of the Defense Logistics Agency.
DSCPE. We were a world-wide "purple suit" Defense organization - all services.
So DSCPE's kingdom was ruled from DSCP in Philly. The first time Philly called and I picked up the phone, I was sure the mob had dialed the wrong number.
"Yo, Philly here. Who my talkin' at?"
"This is the FBI. Are you sure you have the correct number?"
But I enjoyed talkin' wit da mobsters from Philly. And when they came to visit, usually with a Navy Admiral or an Air Force general officer in tow, we showed them a good time. Even taught them some German.
How's the schnitzel? "Dat shumcked gut." (Das hat gut geschmeckt)
They always threatened they were going to bring me back to Philly. Wish now that I'd taken them up on the offer.
Great one, thanks! I agree with you that the Philadelphian pronunciation of Lancaster, PA is like the Lancaster, California or Ohio pronunciation, even though it's only 1-1/2 hours away. I grew up in Lancaster, and yes we do pronounce it quite a bit shorter - two syllables instead of 3, with different sound for the "a". Of course I think it sounds much cooler our way! In college I had to teach my boyfriend from Drexel Hill how to say it :)
This summer I stayed at a hotel across from the train station in Brive-la-Gaillarde and never heard the trains because they're so very quiet, but I did hear the SNCF jingle.... it's the sounds that stay with us!
Reading your post I couldn't help but think of Frank Rizzo, who was mayor of Philadelphia when I lived there. I can still recall his Philly accent, remembering when on local television he confronted a reporter who was camped out in front of his home. Rizzo belligerently accused the reporter of being a "crumb-creep-lush-coward" and said he wanted to fight him. I also remember the smells of the city ... like the soft pretzels when you got the train at 30th Street Station.
Nice read. I’m from Boston and have lived abroad for many years. You described very well the feeling of “home” that lives in the sounds. Every time I go back to Boston I always love those first few moments when, even after all these years everything feels familiar. When the customs officer asks for your passport with a “howaya” then hands it back with “have a good one”. It always makes me smile.
Then….i walk through the doors and it’s the smell of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. Ahhhhh Yes, I’m back 😊
Yes, the sounds... that one misses from elsewhere no matter where you go, or end up.
I'd already figured out that when I move (to france), it's the music and sounds from here that I'll ache for the most. And how 'Mericans' interact with them. (Can you imagine French movie-goers talking back to the screen for the whole length of a movie???? Ha!)
Philly music, you hear it, you know where the musicians come from.
I'm really NY and Chicago (on my American side) myself, despite having now lived for years in Boston/New England.
But I'd been hankering for a "real" pizza slice (i.e., NY) for months! (Sorry, they're not good up here...fuggedabowdid)... Last week, driving through NY, strip mall...YAAS! A real pizza slice! In all its sinfulness! Topped off later on down the road with a dairy queen.
Ok, I know that's not a reasonable diet...and in general, I'm more partial to eating in France... but every once in a great while...
Beautiful piece, Thérèse....
Thank you.
Don't all those colors and memories make us smile, despite it all?
Luved da post, hon.
There's a job waiting for you at the Melrose Diner!
Wonderful post. It's true that those sounds stay with you. I grew up in the SF Bay Area, and I'm old, so we listened to the radio. I love the Starship song "We Built This City" - yeah, I know, everyone hates it, but the parts where they play clips from the SF radio station - that's like home for me.
I think this qualifies as a totally acceptable guilty pleasure!
Living just outside Philly looking towards France-- this was absolute perfection. I don't know if this is a Philly thing or just South Jersey --- but I hear-- from my clients --a great deal of "Dat" for "That."
I LOVE this!
Theresa, A truly fantastic post this morning! Your incorporation of clips that capture the various sounds of Philly is just one of many features that makes this piece (of course your talents as a wordsmith always distinguishes your postings). I am only a hundred miles away, but you made me nostalgic. (I used to be "accentless," but I picked up parts of Eddie's New York accent and now Phil's Midwestern use of "come with")
You have Don to thank for this one, Nancy. Also, thanks for reminding me of Eddie's accent!
I thought it was you, Theresa! In any case, I loved it, and you are both wordsmiths extraordinaire!
Which closed after they heard you left the country!