I have a love-hate relationship with Baltimore. Actually, it's more a like-hate relationship. That's been the case for the over 20 years I've lived and worked here. The reality is that I've always liked Washington better. It's faster-paced, prettier, and more welcoming.
One of the best distinctions I can make between Baltimore and Washington is that, when you meet someone in Washington, you're never asked where you went to high school. In Baltimore, that happens all the time. And, it's best to be able to answer Calvert Hall, Loyola, McDonogh, Mt. St. Joe's, or one of other local private schools.
Another thing I've noticed about Baltimore is that, for the natives, it's not so much that they're proud of what Baltimore has to offer. Instead, they rally around their dislike of what they don't have. For example, Baltimore's baseball fans don't unite around their love for the Orioles -- they unite around their dislike of the Yankees and Red Sox. Baltimoreans don't really love the Inner Harbor -- they just hate the Mall in DC.
There are a couple exceptions. Baltimore's football fans truly love the Ravens. I think this is because all Baltimoreans are born with a chip on their shoulder. Having their original NFL team stolen from them and then being without a team for so long just made that chip even bigger. When they finally got the Ravens, it was love at first sight (never mind that the Ravens, themselves, were stolen from Cleveland).
The other thing Baltimoreans love is their local TV news. Baltimore news is 85% small-town and 15% big city. Traffic reports are provided breathlessly to an audience that, if it wants to really experience traffic, just needs to head 20 miles down I-95 South to the Washington Beltway. TV personalities become larger-than-life and, when the Mary Beth Marsdens and Sally Thorners of the world move on, it's treated almost like the death of the Pope.
Now, Sandra Shaw is leaving. Thursday was her last day. Sandra was WBAL-TV's early morning meteorologist and general features reporter during the 6AM newscast. For the past few years, Sandra's been with me each morning as I've eaten my breakfast. I've watched her "try out" for the Ravens' cheerleading squad, take the Polar Bear plunge in the Chesapeake Bay, guest host for Kelly Ripa on the "Live with Regis and Kelly" show, dress up like a Baltimore hon' and take on countless other silly tasks. And, you know what? Now matter how goofy all those stories were, Sandra approached them with enthusiasm. She was genuine. The best thing about Sandra was that she didn't take herself too seriously. She seemed to realize how funny it was for her to be doing dramatic "on the street" weather reports in the midst of our many 1 inch "snowstorms."
Mornings just won't be the same without Sandra. I'm sad she's leaving. Maybe I'm becoming a Baltimoron after all.