http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09069/954502-100.stm
Phew! This comes as a relief, at least to me. I have a fear of being downtown during the St. Patrick’s day parade due to my experience two years ago. If they are going to make more efforts to “curb public intoxication” I may decide that it’s safe again to go downtown during that time.
My experience two years ago is a funny story when I tell it now but I was a little freaked when it happened.
I was walking across the Smithfield Street bridge to meet a friend at the Home and Garden show and I parked at Station Square because I was dropping my daughter off to her father who was in town for the parade.
I love walking around the city and never had a problem before; even while waiting for a bus, under the overpass at night, by Allegheny Center on the North Side. So I, of course, did not fore-see any future problems during my walking adventures in the city.
Now, we all know that beer seems to be a necessity during St. Patricks Day and even a parade where families are is not an exception, I guess. When I was walking across the bridge a group of drunk twenty-somethings were coming from the other direction. It was icy and one of them slipped and his tall plastic beer mug splashed beer on me. Okay, I can forgive that. As they passed me, one of them turned around and threw a snow ball at me and called me an Oompa-Loompa!
I fully acknowledge that I’m short and look young so I can’t argue the fact that maybe I look like one of Willy Wonka’s workers and possibly the job would be fun but did you really need to throw a snowball at me like a grade schooler?? Plus, I am not orange!
I didn’t do anything but ignore them and keep walking. I really don’t think I can take on 7 guys that are taller than me but I would have good aim at their family jewels, being so short and such.
So I do find this story funny but ever since then I’ve been afraid to go downtown during the St. Patricks Day parade.
Kudos to Pittsburgh if they can make it more family friendly and Oompa Loompa friendly!
