Every once in awhile I'll go to the Rocky Steps (otherwise known as the Philadelphia Art museum steps)and just watch people reenact that famous scene from Rocky. You people from all walks of life. School buses pull up and 6 and 7 year kids race up the stairs. Men and women in suits, wedding parties tourist from other countries. When they get to the top the all "Rocky'd" It's hard to miss the look of joy on their faces. The funny thing is, in all my years of living in Philly I've watched but I've never actually run up those stairs. Well that all changed a few weeks ago.
So anyway a few weeks ago I got laid off from my job. I really felt down in the dumps because I felt I had given my all but since I was one of the newer hires I was let go. I thought about immediately starting the new job hunt but I was really up to the task. I went to Center City, the was a book I wanted to but (stranger from a strange land) and while there I saw a book Rocky Stories
I sat there and read the entire book (sorry book store employees). You know what? I felt inspired. It was a bright sunny day. I great day to "Rocky" watch. I hustled over to the steps. When I got there a funny thing happened. I started to run and before I knew it I was up the first few steps. Then in my head I heard the Rocky Theme "Gonna to Fly now". I took the stairs one, the two then three at a time. And when I got to the top I Rocky'd. Completely oblivious to anything or anyone around. And it was joyous. In all my years I always wondered why people ran up those stairs and in one moment I grokked it in fullness.
I think Stalone said it best “You can't borrow Superman's cape. You can't use the Jedi laser sword. But the steps are there. The steps are accessible. And standing up there, you kind of have a piece of the Rocky pie.”
Has anyone else here ran up the Rocky Steps?
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
No, but you make me want to. Posted by Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged (Member # 7476) on :
quote:Originally posted by KarlEd: No, but you make me want to.
I was under the impression that you've been to Philly a few times. You managed to avoid the steps...I'm shocked
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
I wonder if anyone's done a photo essay/book/whathaveyou of the people who run up the Rocky steps. That'd look quite cool, I think. All the different sorts of folks and stuff. *shrug*
Posted by Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged (Member # 7476) on :
quote:Originally posted by mackillian: I wonder if anyone's done a photo essay/book/whathaveyou of the people who run up the Rocky steps. That'd look quite cool, I think. All the different sorts of folks and stuff. *shrug*
They do. It's called Rocky Stories Posted by Javert (Member # 3076) on :
I lived a block away from them for about a year. I've run up them once myself.
Of course, I've lived in Philly for five years now, so it would have been embarassing if I hadn't.
Posted by Xavier (Member # 405) on :
I've been to the Rocky steps, but didn't run up them.
I had just walked probably 5 miles or so in brand new shoes (blisters galore), and the last thing I wanted to do was run up some stairs!
I did sit on them though. Not quite as inspiring, I know.
Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
I did not get a hole in one, but I did hit a guy and that's way more satisfying.
Sorry, Xavier but your phrasing reminded me of this
Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :
I've never been to the museum, but I assure you, the first time I go there I'm running up those steps.
During the end credits of Rocky Balboa they film lots of different people running up the steps and "Rockying" at the top. It was pretty cool.
Posted by DarkKnight (Member # 7536) on :
I've done it once by myself and once with a group of about 50 people
Posted by brojack17 (Member # 9189) on :
I've always wanted to do it. The closest to Philly I have been is West Conchahockan (or however you spell it).
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