Some of you may remember my post where I shared a tour and some photos of a day trip in March 2008 to Canyon Lake and Tortilla Flats.
I enjoyed sharing the experience and the photographs, and pretty much forgot about them. - until yesterday. I received an email from someone who happened upon my article and the bridges at Canyon Lake - there are two, but I took a photo of only one. I've shared his email so all of us can be reminded that: we never know who is watching! In real life, we never know who is watching us and reading what we say or viewing the picture we share. As a parent, this has always been something about which I've been cognizant and tried to be a good example. But I digress: Here is his email:
He entitled this: "My Bridge"
"I want to thank you for including the photo of the Bridge on Canyon Lake. These two bridges were my favorite diving bridges in the summer of 1959. I drove all the way from San Bernardino, CA with a friend several times to camp near the bridge, and go diving. We did a lot of night diving, pitch black, and would climb to the top on the trusses and dive. We would also race across the bridge underneath the bridge at night.
Great memories, and thanks again."
I was so tickled when I read what he had to say, and it took me back to those years in the 50's which reminded me to write the article about Oak Creek Canyon and Slide Rock. Childhood memories can be among the very best, AND we never know who is: watching us, reading what we have to say. AND we never know what impact it can/will have on others.
I've shared a picture of just the bridge...maybe he'll see this! I shudder to think, as a mom, of my son jumping off in the dark - but, after all, isn't that what kids do? I think the next time I'm up that way, I'll take a photo of the other bridge too. ;-)
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate. Call me at: 480.216-3334 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mesa, Arizona or surrounding towns. OR email me: Teri@TeriEllis.com. Feel free to visit one of my websites: HomesAzRE.com, MoveToMesaAz.com or MoveToSunnyAz.com. Or stop by my blogs at: MesaAzRealEstateVoice; or Phoenix Valley Real Estate Blog
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate. Call me at: 480.382-8711 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mesa, Arizona or surrounding towns. OR email me: Teri@TeriEllis.com. Feel free to visit my website: HomesAzRE.com, or stop by my blogs at: MesaAzRealEstateVoice and AzLadyInRed!
Teri--Don't you love how we are posting things to show off the communities we serve and end up touching lives in ways that we never expected to? Nice post! :)
Very cool story Teri-- I would love to see the Oak Creek Canyon and Slide Rock photos! I went there several times as a kid and now I'm just to old to make the slide!!
Teri, that is so amazing a story, and does prove you never know who is following us. He had great memories of this place.
Teri
I just love pictures of suspension bridges. The picture is beautiful
Sincerely
Tom Braatz
Teri, it is very special....thank you. ;-)
Candace, I just posted those on a RES the post before this one. Forget the slide...no more for me, that's for sure. Thanks! ;-)
Gary, I think it is amazing too...especially since I posted that article in March. I can just picture those boys jumping off of the top of that bridge...;-)
Tom, I do too - and I love bridges. Thank you so much. ;-)
Teri, How rewarding! Finding out you made someone smile: priceless.
Hi Teri, I'm taking a break, making the rounds to say "hi" and found this beautiful pic you've posted. It reminds me me of a bridge in a small Ontario town where my mom grew up. Nice memory!
Teri - What a great feeling you must have revived regarding memories from almost 50 years ago.
Hi Teri what a cool way to connect with someone. I guess you just never know :)
BTW - I feel like I am better than 20/20 vision when I get to your blog...everything is so BIG :)
Debbie, priceless is absolutely the word....takes me back to the old days. ;-)
Marti, hi yourself! Isn't it cool how this bridge brings so many fond memories? ;-)
Mark, yes, it is a great feeling. 50 years back is a looooonnng time - I think before you were on this earth! ;-)
Bill, you're right. we never DO know. So, do you think I need to make the font smallerl? Is that what you're saying? I like all of the "air." ;-)
This is part of the reason I am such a shutter bug. I love to go back and relive the memories over and over. What a great feeling to be able to take your reader back to another time.
Nice when someone sends a note to you like that. Nice photo too :-)
Bridges, Canyon Lake and Fish Creek Hill. I remember driving up there in the 70's. Funny how it's the same, but different.
Terri-priceless. I had to go back and read your Slide Rock story. My kids and I camped at Slide Rock a lot when we lived in Phoenix. We had a pop up camper and would head up there every few weeks during the summer. We loved it and I have some great memories of my kids wearing out the bottom of their shorts sliding down the rocks and how scared I was the first time my son jumped off the ledge into the deeper water. Thanks for the memories.
TERI - As someone who tends to be very nostalgic, I thought that this was such a cool story, and a great inspiration to write from the heart because you never know how it will impact someone's life. However, the parent in me had the same reaction as you. What were they thinking?
Interesting...I wrote a post last week about NY bridges and their history. I lived there for most of my life and it ended up getting lots of views for a local post in a short period...people are amazed at these structures.
WOW - Amazing - that you could touch some one like that and unearth such a deep seated memory for both of you! Makes me want to do it - but I can't seem to think past last night !
Great post! Thanks for sharing!
That is so cool, bringing back all those memories. I have had people contact me about my pbotos as well, makes you feel good. (As a mother of two sons his story makes me cringe)
Teri, That is one cool looking bridge and one great picture. I am working on a post regarding the same issue: you never know who is reading what you write!!!
Teri, What a great story! It is so funny when you post something that it may strike a chord with different people in different ways. Oohh night diving- yikes.
Christine, never did I dream this would be found by someone that had such special childhood memories, but I'm certainly glad it helped revive some memorable ones for him. ;-)
Bob and Carolin, thanks - and would you believe? Taken from the front seat of the car as we were driving,..;-)
Doreen, I don't remember seeing it when I was younger, but remember quite a few other places... great to look back and remember isn't it?
Cindy, glad you enjoyed that memory as well. My nine year old grandson and his 7 and 12 year old sisters jumped off too.....I don't remember it being there when I was a kid - NOT that I would have jumped off. ;-)
Adam, thank you so much. I thought it was special too, and this reader said it in such a wonderful way. ;-)
Neal, I LOVED visiting New York and am amazed at how many bridges they have. I'll stop by and read your post. ;-)
Marcia, LOL, sometimes that is very, very true. That's probably one of the reasons others enjoy it so. ;-)
Charlene, you're welcome....;-)
Christine, that's wonderful.....and yes, I agree! Jumping off the bridge in the dark....s-c-a-r-e-y...but I think boys think they're pretty much invincible...;-)
Mana, I'll be by to check it out. ;-)
Audrey, you're so right, but six months later? It just goes to show you how long our stuff stays on the internet - forever!!! ;-)
This is also one of the first "touristy" things I did when i arrived in Arizona. The scenery is just too amazing for words to adequately describe. Isn't it great that your visitor took the time to let you know about the trip down memory lane? I love when that happens.
Hi Teri - This is a fun story. We have lots of Covered Bridges here in Pennsylvania. My Grandmother was engaged to be married by the historic Knox Bridge here in Chester County :-)
Chuck, I thought it was very special that he took the time to comment, and called it HIS bridge. ;-)
Judy, thank you....you should take a photo of that bridge and share. ;-)
Do I feel a series coming on? I love your bridge pics Teri. Not just because they're beautiful but it's a very welcome distraction from the usual daily stuff. Thx...
Marti, you might....it seems that bridges and lighthouses bring back lots of great memories. I'm all about being distracted from the usual daily stuff Marti. ;-)
Teri, this is wonderful. Thank heavens some things don't change...much. Along with your memories and this bridge you can close your eyes and relive some of the good times in life! Thank you so much for this...this is Diary material!
Later in the rain~Deb
Deb, what a nice thing to say. Thank you very much...;-)
TERI, Just looking at that bridge brings back memories of bridges in Kansas. That is a cool story. You are right we don't know who is watching.
It can be amazing how people stumble on what we write here. I once wrote an article on the ripoff dancing mice you can buy in Europe. A couple days later a tourist, thinking of buying some, wrote to thank me for the blog.
Marchel, I'm glad it resurrects memories for you as well. Yep, we never know - ;-)
Steven, what we write is out there forever...and ever. Isn't that nice that someone takes the time to let you know how much they appreciate your info, picture, or whatever? ;-)