The Bridges Of Cyberland County

A few years ago ( it's always a few years ago when you get old) there was a news story about two construction companies. One of the companies had the job of building a bridge, the other a road to connect the bridge to the main road. As the completion date was nearing calculations were made and to the baffled engineers it became apparent that somehow the road and the bridge were about two or three feet off center and wouldn't quite match up. I don't know what ever happened to that bridge but I know first hand that here in Cyberland such things can happen in the blink of an eye.

There are times when what is on the other side of the treacherous waters seem so inviting that we can build our own bridge and rush over to enjoy the fruits of our labors. We'll toil at the task endlessly with wild abandonment, forsaking what we know for what we hope. Those bridges built on hope seem to be the strongest yet the most elusive and rare.

Other times it seems the best we can hope for is to find a like minded individual who believes if we both begin constructing we'll meet somewhere in the middle which will allow us both to cross at will into each others lives. Foundations are laid with words, written and spoken, ideas, concepts and fantasies are thrown into the mixture of laughter and even sometimes tears. Inch by inch with much anticipation we draw closer. I'm not really sure what sometimes halts construction but halt it does. It's sad when you feel the need to just leave that unfinished bridge as it is and gather yourself up to continue on your journey.

Sometimes both people realize that building the bridge wasn't such a good idea. Everyone leaves and continues on their journeys none the worse for the experience and sometimes happy that they at least tried. They know that at the very least they created some memories to be relived in some other place and time.

At times there is sadness and maybe even anger at the waste of energies and time. I've never felt that way about any new adventure or prospect of a new bridge in my life. There have been times I'll admit I was left confused at what part of the connection was missed, but even then it was a learning experience.

There are bridges that seem to go up in the blink of an eye. There are those that take time and patients.

We build them, remember them, turn away from them, burn them, and sometimes we even revisit them. They are the bridges of our lives.

We find ourselves at crossroads many times, carefully ( or so we hope) choosing which path will bring us our desires. Many times we are fortunate enough to find someone else on our journey who can help guide