Growing up in a town just outside Philly, I used to know every | Jack Posobiec

Growing up in a town just outside Philly, I used to know everyone on my street and play outside until the lights came on

But something happened - jobs started drying up and crime started rising, even violent crime

My parents moved us out when things kept getting worse
I used to walk down Powell Street to the library once a week and get lost in the stacks of books

Sometimes I'd pull my wagon behind me to fill it up with new literary finds

After homeless people started stabbing each other there, my mom didn't want me going anymore
My Catholic school had closed down a few years before, and we transferred to another Catholic school a few miles away where it was safer. We had a great community where kids walked to school and families knew each other. That one's closed now, too. And our high school.
After high school I went to Temple in North Philly

And then I really found out what crime was like

But I didn't understand yet why no one did anything about it

It was like leaders just left all these places to die
My dad worked at the State Hospital, and so had my Nana. I was always proud they helped people who had psychiatric issues.

Then one day he told us the hospital was getting defunded

I asked what would happen to all the patients

He said "They're graduating them"
We used to play little league at Ackey's Field right across from the hospital

They'd had issues with escapees before but with this, they didn't want us being around in case former patients lingered around

And they did
Ended up being able to join the military. Was fortunate enough to see the world. Got to visit my family's homeland of Poland. Lived in China, even.

But I never forgot what happened to the town where I grew up.

They took it away.
Now that I have a family of my own and 2 little boys, the concepts of community, tradition, and faith are so much more real.

And there are still good places for us to go.

But that doesn't mean what happened to my town didn't happen.

And they all got away with it.
So if you ever wanted to know

That's where I'm coming from