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My mother, I must add, made up phrases right and left to suit herself and then told us they were common knowledge, so my brother and I are always continually amazed at by the things “everyone says.” We thought my mother made up everything. We’re always emailing and calling each other to ask: is this something other people say too?

In the last year of her life when she was more erratic than ever, she met Hines Ward, who she’d always loved. It was the last year he played and she insisted they were trying to push him out and he had more left to give the team. But for some reason on this occasion, she decided to tell him, “Piss or get off the pot.” (Sorry for swearing.) According to my brother who was standing beside her, he looked confused for a split second, then he smiled and nodded and kissed her cheek. She beamed and cupped his face. She was about 80 then. He held up the line to talk to her quietly for another full 5 minutes. Yes, yes, she was my mother. But how could anyone know that and not love the both of them? I still wonder what he said to her. I still love him for saying anything. Things like this are the best part of being a Steelers fan. Or any fan. Some of these people give back to those who love them.

Eartling

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Earthling

And a note on being Anonymous. I know Ivan prefers that people use real names. I’m really just being lazy but I’ve always liked the anonymity of the Internet for the way voices are just that–voices unattached to people and their various histories. I find it more interesting to read words as words, opinions floating free of who someone is and what right he or she has to air them. I’m not anyone important or anyone who has anything to hide. (Obviously, I’m not Mike Tomlin…) I had an SB nation account but it’s been so long since I used it I remember neither my screen name or the email account I used to create it, and I used it rarely. I also don’t believe people are more responsible when using their “real names.” I’m often appalled when I look at the comments on NFL.com, say, and see someone’s facebook photo–there they are, holding child or dog or hand of a loved one and yet the comments are shocking and cruel. Apparently some people are shameless. And Earthling means nothing. Once long ago, I had a long conversation with someone that ended with me trying to give him my email address. “I’m on Earthlink,” I said. (Yes, that long ago.) He thought I said, “I’m an Earthling.” It’s what I use to describe myself when I’ve got nothing more clever.

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