Crossing the Bridge at Sunset
In response to Dancing Elephants prompt 14 of 52
Taking this picture at sunset filled me with inexplicable and indelible joy because I stopped to look at the small bridge arch its wooden planks under the deep golden hues of the winter sunset.
What’s up with bridges and sunsets? You might wonder.
They bring me a transcending joy, teleporting me from one place to another, from one stage or state of being to another, from stagnation to change, and from sadness to joy.
Besides joy, bridges also bring back nostalgic memories of my small town Lugoj, where I grew up in Romania. Lugoj had a few bridges arched over the Timis River with the iron and concrete bridges being the largest and most traveled to get to the two biggest churches, the daily fresh produce market, the library, and the stores.
I found those two bridges as my solace during communism, as I played a game that made me happy for no reason. I liked to pretend that as soon as I crossed either the iron or the concrete bridge to the other side of my small town, all my worries lifted up as quickly as a balloon flying in the air.
I felt relieved and renewed to cross bridges multiple times a day when I walked to school, or when my father sent me to the store to buy things. I felt free, too, which was my defensive and coping mechanism during communism.
Connection
“Bridges are understood to provide a path or way forward, helping people to cross over from one stage or state to another. Bridges can be seen as powerful symbols of transformation and change.” — Kristen Stanton
Stanton’s statement about transformation and change sure matches how I felt as a child crossing bridges in my hometown. I loved that feeling of transformation when I reached the other side of the bridge.
I felt as giddy as when I jumped over bigger puddles than my short legs could handle, and instead landed in the puddle splashing mud on my clean pants that my mom washed by hand and ironed with love.
I knew my mom would scold me for returning home with muddy pants, but I kept telling myself that I could jump farther next time.
The path or way forward brought optimism for a better future for my country and my family, even though my father made good money and I didn’t lack much — we also never splurged on things.
New beginnings
“In many cultures, a bridge is seen as a symbol of new beginnings. After all, it is a structure that spans two points, connecting them and creating a new path forward. For some, this represents the transition from one phase of life to another, such as childhood to adulthood.” — Kristen Stanton
I could not agree with Stanton more. As a teenager, the bridges in my hometown meant leaving my childhood carefree years behind and crossing into adulthood, as we were considered adults at 18.
Sure enough, those new beginnings came faster than I imagined when I left Romania at the age of 22 to cross much longer bridges once my boyfriend (now my husband), and I moved to America, seeking new sights and horizons in a new country with a different culture than ours.
We worked hard for a few years until we forged new paths in our lives. We also found new joys in watching sunsets everywhere we traveled — preferably over a bridge, for me.
And if you wish to find more joy in your life and even spread it around like soft butter on toast, then come and cross real and imaginary bridges with me at sunset.
That’s all I ask you to do in the name and for the sake of joy, for we can all transcend the sadness and sorrow from one side of the bridge to the cheerful side.
Thanks so much for the wonderful prompt about joy, Dr. Gabriella Korosi. I love it!
I enjoyed reading this story about purple irises so beautifully written by Allisonn Church. It inspires me for my next writing prompt about flowers.
I am honored to be part of The Dancing Elephant Publication and have five of my essays published in Holistic Journey Toward Wellness, a wonderful anthology that Dr. Gabriella Korosi, Sharing Randomly, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, and Dr. Preeti Singh put together.
Please buy it and enjoy its positivity year-long.
For more poetic musings and short-form philosophy, please check out my new book, Morsels of Love, A Book of Poetry, and Short-Form, published last year. You can also order directly from my website www.carmenmicsabooks.com to receive an autographed copy.
If you like podcasts, please listen to my new podcast, Seeds of Sunshine, a multigenerational podcast that I started together with my daughter.
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Works cited:
Bridge Symbolism & Meaning (Communication) — Meaning Symbolism