Talking Pennsylvanian

We're back home!  It was a long travel day yesterday but we finally made it home to our own beds by 2am.  We did so much, saw so much, once again filled up 2 cameras and a Flip video.  There's lots to recap and eventually I maybe will, but the summer of traveling is continuing and I just don't have the time...I leave in less than 2 days for a girl's weekend away....(woohoo Matchbox 20!) and then next week another family vacation to see more family...this time Santa Cruz to visit Aaron's side.  Can't wait for both! 

In the meantime I wanted to share this funny list called "Talking Pennsylvanian" my Mom sent me.  All of it is so true...Pennsylvania is like another culture and another time in so many ways.  I've always kinda just known that but Aaron was constantly amazed at how different it is, especially from California.  In addition, Pittsburgh too has it's own set of quirks...I think I'll begin compiling my own list. 

Once a Pennsylvanian, ALWAYS a Pennsylvanian!
 
About Pennsylvanians:
 

• You've never referred to Philadelphia as anything but 'Philly' and New Jersey has always been ' Jersey '


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• You refer to Pennsylvania as 'PA' (pronounced Pee-ay). How many other states do that?


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• 'You guys' is a perfectly acceptable reference to a group of men and women


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• You know how to respond to the question 'Djeetyet?' (Did you eat yet?)


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• You learned to pronounce Bryn Mawr, Wilkes-Barre, Schuylkill, the Pocono's, Tamaqua, Tunkannock, Bala Cynwyd, Duquesne and Monongahela.


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• And we know Lancaster is pronounced Lank aster, not Lan kaster.


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• You know what a 'Mummer' is, and are disappointed if you can't catch at least highlights of the parade.


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• You know what ' Punxsutawney Phil' is, and what it means if he sees his shadow.


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• The first day of buck and the first day of doe season are school holidays.


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• At least five people on your block have electric 'candles' in all or most of their windows all year long.


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• You know what a 'State Store' is, and your out-of-state friends find it incredulous that you can't purchase liquor at the mini-mart.


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• Words like 'hoagie,' 'crick,' 'chipped ham,' 'dippy eggs', 'sticky buns,' 'shoo-fly pie,' 'lemon sponge pie', pierogies' and actually mean something to you.


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• You can eat cold pizza (even for breakfast) and know others who do the same. Those from NY find this 'barbaric.'


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• You not only have heard of Birch Beer, but you know it comes in several colors.


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• You know the difference between a cheese steak and a pizza steak sandwich, and know that you can't get a really good one outside PA, except Atlantic City on the boardwalk.


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• You live for summer, when street and county fairs signal the beginning of funnel cake season.


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• You know that Blue Ball, Intercourse, Paradise , Climax, Bird-in-Hand, Beaver, Moon, Virginville, Mars, and Slippery Rock are PA towns. (and the first three were consecutive stops on the Reading RR).


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• You know what a township, borough, and commonwealth is.


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• You can identify drivers from New York , New Jersey , Maryland or other neighboring states by their unique and irritating driving habits.


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• A traffic jam is 10 cars waiting to pass a horse-drawn carriage on the highway in Lancaster County .


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• You know several people who have hit deer more than once.


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• You carry jumper cables in your car and your female passengers know how to use them.


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• Driving is always better in winter because the potholes are filled with snow.


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• As a kid you built snow forts and leaf piles that were taller than you were.


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• You know beer doesn't grow in a garden but you know where to find a beer garden.


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• You also know someone who lives 'down the lane'.


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• You actually understand all this and send it on to other Pennsylvanians or former Pennsylvanians!


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• YEAH!  THAT'S 'PA' AND WE LOVE IT

Here's some family photos I did want to share...
This is us with my Uncle Steve and Aunt Donna, cousin David and his family

And here are some from when we visited my Grandma...92 years old and physically healthy as can be!  Doesn't even really need the walker, it was actually quite humorous to watch her more like throw it around then use it. 


We obviously don't make it back East very often so it is so special to be able to see family when we can.