the st. johns. the fremont. the broadway. the steel. the burnside. the morrison. the hawthorne. the marquam. the ross island. the sellwood.
recently, i've been asking my friends what their favorite bridge is as a test of character. my mother says the fremont. it shares the same name as the street that i grew up on. and it's expansive. huge. and open. when you drive from the east to the west side, you are on the top level, looking out over the industrial district. it feels like you are on the golden gate but in a city where the air is fresher. my boyfriend says the sellwood. it is a tiny two lane bridge with nerve wracking walking paths on each side. there are rumors that even the architect who built it refuses to use it because it is in constant danger of falling down. my boyfriend, he likes the danger. he plays russian roulette every time he crosses it. my best friend, he says the broadway. it is a safe bridge, made out of iron that is tinted red. there are bike paths on each side, and a mural to the north that shows cowboys picking grains.
my favorite bridge is the steel. thus far, i stand alone in the poll.
the steel is under used. it is tricky to get their by car. but on the east side of the river, the bridge spills out onto the esplanade, where i can walk with sugar's leash hanging loosely on my wrist. on the west side, you enter into old town, where the buildings are all made out of worn brick. the steel has two levels; the top for cars and the max train, the bottom for walkers and bikers. and perched in between the two iron towers is a pale yellow house where a man sits to push a button that raises the bridge to make room for the boats passing through on their way to the pacific.
on another note, i would like to go dancing tonight, if you want to join.
