I remember chuckling at those words – emblazoned so boldly on city park benches -- -- when I moved to Baltimore in 2001. After a few months as a newcomer to ‘Balmer city life, I viewed the statement as down right deluded and sad. What kind of city – especially a city with a nationally ranked murder rate and violent drug crime – would dare to declare itself the greatest city in America?
 |
| From Move2008 |
I was no fan of Baltimore in the beginning. “Isn’t this a great neighborhood?” Mark asked as he drove me around Hampden. “Nope.” I responded – sure that this was definitely not a great neighborhood as we passed an abandoned school (which later Mark informed me was not abandoned but closed for the summer and not funded by a rich taxbase like the suburban Fairfax county schools I was used to attending).
After 7 years of living in the “Greatest City in America”, I can tell you that I love Baltimore. I can also tell you that I now understand why those words are true. Living in Baltimore, for me, has been about beginning and building the greatest friendships in my life. It has also been about learning that life can be ugly but still beautiful, people can be flawed but still worthy, you can be poor but still rich in the things that matter, and any city can be the greatest … if you open your eyes to look.
2 comments:
Cassie,
I think your comments on Baltimore are very poignant. I have visited very few sections of the city and basically the extremes - the touristy harbor and Camden Yards area, and the gritty every-day life around Hamdpen. But from my experiences I will say that there is a real-ness to the place, where you feel that authentic people are living their lives in such a way that a city is constituted and given its culture. As the wikipedia entry says as of Hampden (as of today): "The neighborhood features a diverse mix of hipsters and strung out white people on low-rider bicycles."
I live in a community that was just named "MD's best place to raise kids," and about 10 years ago won a most-livable community in the nation award, or something. But it's largely a community of nothing. People disconnected from each other, living in places which aren't really places, a community with little sense of community.
On your last night in town when I asked if you were happy to have lived in Baltimore, your face lit up as you answered in the affirmative. Though I would in almost every scenario prefer to live where I do now as opposed to Baltimore, there are definitely things I envied about your existance there, and I can understand why you feel your time there was so enriching.
I would end with something over-the-top like, "the city will be poorer because of your departure," but honestly, most people won't notice. :-)
Well, those were Cassie's thoughts. I need more time to get away from Baltimore before I can reflect on the positives. The downsides had worn on me too much.
But it was funny, Cassie was much more upbeat at the time of our actual departure--I was having mixed feelings, partly worry over the house, partly fatigue, partly relief that we were finally leaving. Time will tell.
Post a Comment