burn, baby, burn
There is a bridge on which I stand, useful only in that it provides me with an ability to soothe others' concern. Me, I'd rather be in the roiling water beneath it than stay standing on this bridge, unable to cross it - either forward or back.
So, I plan to burn this bridge. Soon, as soon as I've fulfilled my obligation, I will light a match. Whether my flame only chars the structure or leaves it in ruins, I don't care. I have no intention on remaining stuck on this bridge.
No, I don't have another built. No, not even the foundation of one. I'm sorry if that worries you, but I'm burning this bridge before it consumes me. I can swim.
About Jodi
I had no intention of becoming a writer, never thought of myself as a writer, rarely wrote, yet loved language.
One of my first classes at Penn was Biography, Autobiography and Fiction with Dr. Irma Lustig, an amazing teacher. We read diaries and papers of...
Connections
Causes Jodi Thompson Supports
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
Jodi’s Favorite Books
The Poisonwood Bible; Turtle Moon; Yellow Raft on Blue Water; Ahab's Wife; The Red Tent
Oy.
This is om-in-ous, JT. I usually applaud audacious action, encourage stepping forth boldly, but almost always worry when I see bridges in flame.
I often worry that someone is not as strong a swimmer as she thinks, or that the waters are more treacherous, or, or, or... I hope this goes well for you, whatever it is.
Oh, great. I finally make a
Oh, great. I finally make a decision, and now you have me second-guessing myself. Thanks, Ron. You're right, of course. I rarely, if ever, intentionally burn a bridge. This has just been a bridge to nowhere for far too long and it's starting to feel endless and hopeless.
How about if I leave it standing, but jump off? That sound any better? Only kidding.
Since it's impossible to cross, I'll tiptoe backwards until I'm free of it. How's that? (But I am a strong swimmer.)
You Know what to do.
Be brave. Do it. There is no wrong.
Thanks, Ron. Just have to get
Thanks, Ron. Just have to get through today, then...
Let's go to Paris, via Tokyo
You are both chicken.
Oooh, sounds delightful. But
Oooh, sounds delightful. But my lack of funds keeps me grounded in Pennsylvania. My daughter-in-law and son decided last night that I'm actually a hobbit, although I balked at the big, hairy feet part. Plus, my lack of a sense of adventure at this point is simply a matter of circumstance. This, too, shall pass.
Travelling with me is free
Just seat yourself comfortably in the "way-back machine" and laugh at my misadventures. :-)
Will do, Jane!
Will do, Jane!
Just cross it, Jodi. No need
Just cross it, Jodi. No need to burn it. mx
I'd like to, Mary, but the
I'd like to, Mary, but the folks who own the bridge have blockaded it, despite my repeatedly paying the toll. The trolls!
Could it be Billy Goats Gruff
Could it be Billy Goats Gruff and the gang?! m
I think so!
I think so!
Oh this is deep writing
Oh this is deep writing Jodi. I like it! It tells me you are hanging on to your faith and the knowing that you will survive as you swim. Who cares about the bridge... if it does not serve you any good then by all means go for a swim! It's rejuvenating :-)
Thanks for the encouragement,
Thanks for the encouragement, Rina! Swim, I will. The bridge can stay where it is. Who cares, indeed.
How about this. Stand on
How about this. Stand on this bridge one last time, thank it for having served its purpose. Then walk away. Don't burn it. It will ever serve as a reminder that you have outgrown it.
Ok, ok! No one lets me play
Ok, ok! No one lets me play with matches. I'll let the dang bridge stand. Can't I maybe put a big, ole X on it, so I remember not to try to cross it again? Please?
I think you just did
That big red X is glaring up at me from the photo. It's a proper requiem.
Just to let you know why this
Just to let you know why this bridge needs to be burned, or at least abandoned. While spending so much time trapped on it, another that I really wanted to cross burned - just this morning, right after I got off the other bridge. Big red X it is.
Blow the damn bridge ~
Don't burn it, set it off with high explosives. Let the trolls see you setting the explosives. "She won't do it," they say. "She's serious," another will say. "Don't do it," they begin shouting.
But you ignite the fuse, and then turn and leap off the bridge, taking the leap of faith that the dive into the air and whatever is below the bridge is better than staying on the bridge.
You'll dive in slow motion as the bridge blows up in the background. We'll be presented several angles from above and from far away as the explosions rip the bridge apart, sending shrapnel into the air and an orange and black fireball into the sky. We'll have a close up of your anxious face with the explosion behind you, and then a closer shot of your eyes, reflecting excitement before you drop out of the camera's view. Then we'll pan to the limitless sky and think, she's flying. And we'll wonder, is this the climax or the beginning?
Cheers
Michael, Love it! I hope it's
Michael,
Love it! I hope it's the climax of this story and the beginning of another. Thank you for a wonderful image!
Jodi
Your post reminds me ~
We're always learning to fly. Cheers
Stand on a bridge that supports you
May I respectfully suggest backtracking to the beginning of the bridge (since it's been blockaded so you can't cross it), flipping it off (verbally or with exaggerated gestures), never looking at that bridge, never talking to that bridge, and never thinking about that bridge again, and then finding another bridge, and crossing that one? Don't burn the bridge; save your matches for those bridges, and for those trolls, who TRULY deserve a really nice conflagration!
I don't mean to sound like my mother, but there are plenty of other bridges out there to cross. I've always thought--I'm better standing on a bridge that helps to support me, too. If it doesn't, I'll find one that does. There's always a toll to pay, but we learn from every bridge. And every payment.
Wise words, Steve. I will
Wise words, Steve. I will save my matches.
My mother used to say something similar: "There are plenty of fish in the sea." In actuality, I think she said something more like "There's more than one schmoo in the world." I like to think she intended the first version.
So true that there's always a toll to pay, but also that we do learn from it.
Still learning,
Jodi
I see a lot of people have
I see a lot of people have weighed on in this. I don't know - for me, it just seems very liberating. Whatever you decide to do, wishing ou the best of luck.
Thanks, Alysa. I definitely
Thanks, Alysa. I definitely got off that bridge, and I feel fine with that decision. As for burning, we'll see.
Thanks for stopping by.
As for me, I rarely burn
As for me, I rarely burn bridges, but in the last few years, I've decided that in order to truly move forward, I had to destroy the bridge entirely. Even the shadow of that certain bridge behind me, in my rear view mirror, continued to haunt and hold me. So I say burn it! If it holds you back that strongly, burn it!
You seem strong enough to swim, and if you falter, there's always floating on your back while you regain your strength.
Go girl!
Annette
Thank you, Annette, for the
Thank you, Annette, for the words of encouragement. I appreciate it!
I seem to burn more bridges through inaction than action. I guess I'm doing that same thing here. I'll let you know what happens.
Holding pattern. Story of my life. I am the Queen of Inertia, after all. I rule!