Crossing Bridges

I've had a fascination with bridges for as long as I can remember. I'm from the San Francisco Bay Area and my favorite bridge is the Golden Gate -- how could it not be? It's majestic and in the fog it's mysterious -- almost haunting. And on a clear day, it's unbelievable. I obviously wasn't around when they built it, but I know that eleven men lost their lives while it was being constructed.

Bridges help to connect us from one side to the other and maybe therein lies the fascination for me. On Anna Maria Island there are so many connecting bridges to the ocean. The one pictured here is on the north shore near Bean Point and there's just enough of an incline that you can't quite see the ocean until you're halfway over the bridge. Maybe it's the anticipation of what lies on the other side, but I always close my eyes until Mark says, "Okay, you can open them!" I'm such a kid that way. It doesn't matter how many times I've done it, I still get excited because the ocean is always different. On this particular day the red flag was up and the riptides were fierce because Tropical Storm Claudette was brewing in the Gulf Coast. It was a surprise; I wasn't expecting it. The day was perfect -- no rain, no clouds, but the storm was approaching.

I hope whatever "bridge" you're crossing in life right now, you're filled with a sense of peace and calm and maybe even a feeling of great expectations!

Passionately yours,