Tube City Almanac

July 23, 2009

On a Lighter Note

Category: General Nonsense || By



I felt like we needed a quick break after discussing all of the heavy topics of the past few days.

Here's a 1953 animated version of James Thurber's short story, "The Unicorn in the Garden."

Those of you who know me personally (you poor fools) know that I'm a bit of a nut on James Thurber, and have been since high school.

Incidentally, if you visit The Thurber House (which I have several times) in the writer's boyhood home in Columbus, Ohio, you'll find a garden with a little statue of a unicorn just across the street.

. . .

Now: To tie this back to our discussions of the past few weeks, the neighborhoods of Thurber's various addresses in Columbus represent some pretty rough territory, or at least they did eight or 10 years ago.

(I was warned by one local not to visit one of the neighborhoods even during the daylight, but I went anyway, because I'm a daredevil ... or stupid, take your pick.)

Decaying neighborhoods really aren't a McKeesport problem, or a Mon Valley problem or even a Pennsylvania problem --- most of the cities in the northern half of the United States are afflicted with abandoned houses, poverty and all of the consequences.

On the one hand, I don't blame anyone who wearies of the fight, and says "enough"!

On the other hand, maybe I love lost causes, and maybe I'm ready for the booby hatch myself.

In fact, maybe I'll go visit the booby hatch tonight.

It's out on West Fifth Avenue, near the Mansfield Bridge. (Rimshot.)

. . .

P.S.: Tip o'the Tube City hard hat to Roger Ebert.






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