Culture Shock

Here I am back in Philly for a visit-- for how long I can't say-- and am suffering from culture shock. Not just from the more amenable weather, but the realization that Philadelphia is in the middle of a boom. Yes, believe it. From the first sight of vibrant Chinatown from the window of a Greyhound bus, to the seeming new buildings and businesses everyplace, to people everywhere on sidewalks, the center of the metropolis is starkly different from the very stark city of Detroit. Hard to believe that the two cities were once of comparable size and prosperity. Count your blessings, Philadelphians-- stop comparing yourself to New York City and realize what shape you're in as one of the great American cities.