The Golden Gate Bridge

 

This structure is, perhaps, the biggest tourist attraction in San Francisco. As a permanent resident of the city, driving on the bridge is an absolute daily necessity. Looking at the bridge is a rarity for a tourist. For me, it’s a routine. Nonetheless, I still regard this bridge highly. But a handful ten-year-old contradicts my perception completely.

It’s just a bridge – painted orange. Why do they even call it Golden Gate Bridge?

Andy would not stop ranting as we drove to see the bridge like foreigners do. He was under my and Jonathan’s custody last weekend. His parents took an out-of-state vacation for their wedding anniversary. Every couple needs an alone time – at least annually. I could not say no, clearly. They live in San Jose, which is not too far from here. Yes, Andy’s been here before – many, many times. But he’s not a native. He deserves a trip.

Apparently, we were more excited than he was. Kids these days, they get bored too easily. The Golden Gate Bridge does not excite him anymore because he’s been here before. He was a smart boy and he knew the history of the bridge better than I do. But the timeless story and profound architecture behind the bridge seemed irrelevant to him. He had a question which his perpetual complaints made very clear for me to hear – Why do we have to come here?

I pondered over Andy’s notion on the Golden Gate Bridge. He may be young but he had a point. It’s just a bridge painted orange. Why is it so important? After careful deliberation – oh yes, I let a little boy bother me that much – I finally understood why this orange bridge never loses its golden splendor. It’s a landmark, it’s San Francisco’s own distinction. When you see a post card with a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco comes to your head. It’s what draws the thick line between San Francisco and all other cities worldwide.

A distinctive feature – it’s what every writer must have to succeed, it’s what every story must have to be a worthy read, and it’s what every character must have to be remembered. Concepts and issues tackled in books are cliché. It is the delivery – the choice of words to play – that makes one love story a bestseller and another love story a struggling chart climber.

Andy, in a two-hour outdoor trip, showered me with wisdom for keeps. I must build my own bridge, paint it orange, and make it golden!

 

Hats off to little kids,

Sandra Ross