I love Scranton, Pennsylvania. The way Di Nero loves NYC. The way Bostonians love David Ortiz. I love it.
I love the endless rows of nearly-identical homes wrapped in faded aluminum siding. I love slate sidewalks. I love sitting on the front porch, the fake “grass” underfoot and talking to the neighbor across the street who’s sitting on his porch, for hours at a time.
I love the chili dogs served at St. Ann’s Novena. Travel the entire planet and you’ll not find a tastier combination of hot dog, bun, chili and mustard. Served on their own, each ingredient is ordinary, but the combined result is transcendent. Don’t ask me how.
I love that I can still recall skits performed by 107 DJs Daniels and Webster when I was in jr. high school because they were that damn funny. I love that the Christmas lights in the Times Tower never come down.
I love a city populated by 70,000 honest, hard-working blue collar people who want to put in a week’s labor, catch a Yankees game, grab a tray from Maroni’s, bring the kids to Nay Aug and go to bed content with happy children, bills paid and friends and family nearby.
I love that while my wife and I were touring Italy for our honeymoon, she turned to me upon entering a small, family store selling meats and cheeses and said, “Wow, this is just like Catalano’s.”
I love buying bootlegs in The Electric Mind Shaft. I love Electric Mary. I love people who remember Skateaway, Hatchy Milatchy and Manny Goron. I love the IGA and South Side bowl. I love driving down Fireman’s Hill with the lights off.
I know that you love Scranton, too. Really love it. Let’s talk about Scranton. What do you love? The comments are now open.
