Bridges to last a lifetime – or beyond

The world is full of bridges. I have seen quite a few, too. One was a mighty bridge that fell into the Danube hours after I crossed it. One was invisible but conquered even death.

By Tuula Pere

January 25^th, 2021

Bridges to last a lifetime – or beyond

The world is full of bridges. I have seen quite a few, too. One was a mighty bridge that fell into the Danube hours after I crossed it. One was invisible but conquered even death.

Bridges take us across rivers and mountain passes. Sometimes they are masterpieces of engineering or demonstrations of the power and wealth of society and rulers. Those in power have wanted to leave behind monuments, pyramids, palaces, and other eye-catching structures. Bridges are more acceptable in this respect because practical needs can usually justify them.

We want to transport people, vehicles, and merchandise on the most direct route from one place to another. When a bridge is necessary, why not at the same time make it somehow spectacular – one for which its designers and enablers are still praised and admired, even centuries later.

Sometimes the fame of the bridge – and those behind it – literally collapses. In 1976, I witnessed something like that in Vienna. "Reichsbrücke," a significant bridge in Vienna, had been taken into use only a few months before the "Anschluss Österreichs" took place in 1938.

On that particular August evening, in 1976, I walked on the "Reichsbrücke" with my friends. This colossal bridge had stood in its place over the Danube during the horrors of the Second World War. Still, I felt strange trembling as we were on the bridge. The others just laughed at me as if I suspected an earthquake. In the early hours of the next morning, this colossal bridge fell into the water with some cars and people.

Let's memorize for a moment the various bridges of our lives. There are those we remember for their beauty, height, or other visual elements. Some of them we have crossed being afraid of their height. On other bridges, we have admired the natural beauty around us or maybe feeling romantic together with someone dear to us. There are also bridges we have hardly noticed as they have been part of our regular routes.

If you could build a bridge, what kind of bridge would it be? Maybe you already have a particular purpose in your mind – for practicalities or fun.

In my mind, I often build bridges, but they are mostly very abstract ones. They are somewhat invisible connections between people. We create them with kind words, giving a helping hand, or simply by being present in each other's lives. Those bridges are equally important compared to concrete structures.

I remember a moment years ago when I sat in the car alone and listened to the famous song "Bridge over Troubled Water." I couldn't drive, as compassion and pain filled my mind. A very dear person was seriously ill. We had always discussed a lot about anything, but at that moment I decided to write him a letter which he could read before the operation. I know he did. Our bridge was based on sharing life, respecting and trusting each other. It stood firm until the very last day – and even after.

Every day is a possibility to start building a new, beautiful bridge between us and others. These mental bridges are built with words, actions, and presence. As Paul Simon put it: "Like a bridge over troubled water; I will lay me down… I will ease your mind."