Bridge

The monthly word prompt is Bridge. When I think of a bridge, I am taken back to elementary school. We took a trip one day, perhaps in fifth grade, to the local park. My local park was full of history, dating back over 300 years. This park contains the usual playground and picnic tables for the family to have a fun day out. It also has a historical house with tours available and extensive grounds that include a farm and a meandering stream.

Along the stream is the most beautiful walking bridge I have ever seen. (Though I may be waxing poetic over visions from my youth.) While we were on this particular field trip, our teacher had us each find a space that would belong to us. We were to use this space as a place when we just needed someplace to think or relax or in my case, read.

I chose the spot right as the bridge started. I could sit in the green grass, listen to the water in the stream and do as I pleased. While I did use it mostly to relax and think, I also used it to read when the weather was warm.

The park actually has at least two bridges that I remember. One is in the main park that most people stay in. Another, the one I preferred, is located along the walk out to the fields. It, as Robert Frost says, is not the one most traveled by. It was not uncommon to sit there for upwards of an hour and not have any visitors. Even though the park is right on the main road through town, the bridge is quite secluded.

I moved on from my hometown many moons ago. I actually have not even been back in over ten years at this point. However, the visual the bridge brings to mind is serenity. It was a calm, quite place where I could be myself and just read and relax.

For those of you anywhere near where I grew up, here is a link to the park. It is situated in southern Pennsylvania near Gettysburg and the Antietam battlefield (which is Maryland.)