Crossing those bridges as we came to them.

I have a great fear of bridges. I'm not sure when I developed this fear. When I was little my family made lots of trips between Idaho and Tennessee, and I can remember loving to lay down in the back end of the station wagon and look up at the top of the bridges as we would cross them. Maybe that was the key... I was looking up at the top of them, and not down at what was under them! My husband and kids know that I have this awful fear, yet one of their greatest delights in life is to make mom squirm!

This past weekend we took a trip up to the Smoky Mountains. On our way there we passed a bridge that we have passed many times. The kids have often made the comment that they wonder where that bridge goes to, and that someday they would like to cross that bridge, and this trip was no different. I just laughed and told them that it was out of our way. Well, my dear husband laughed right back this time, and said, "Well, we really aren't in a big hurry to get there. Let's turn around and see it a little closer!" WHAT??? Are you kidding me?? But of course, he wasn't. He turned the van around and headed straight for it. Now I shouldn't be surprised by this... he has done that to me several times before. So, I decided to be a good sport about all of it, and I grabbed my camera to capture the moment.

I have to be honest, as bridges go this one was not too scary! I was delighted with myself for staying calm and under control!

Well, fast forward to the return trip. We see another bridge that we have once again seen many times. The kids wanted a closer look at this one as well. I thought to myself, Barry couldn't possible do this to me a second time in one trip... but he did! This time the bridge was very narrow, very long, and it was a very LONG way down. I didn't have enough sense this time to grab the camera, I was freaking out a bit... holding my breath, shutting my eyes, clenching my hands to tightly my knuckles were white, and saying one of those small prayers over and over again in my mind. Meanwhile I hear my kids squealing with delight. I did open my eyes a couple of times... I probably shouldn't have! That just seemed to freak me out even more. Finally we were over the bridge, and I could breathe a little easier. Barry and the kids were all laughing and the kids were yelling to cross it again. I kept thinking to myself, "Where have I gone wrong? How could these kids that I have nurtured and raised and loved turn on me like this?" Thankfully we didn't have to cross it again to get back on the right road. We discovered a new way to get where we needed to go.

I love my husband and children, but I'm telling you, they had better be watching out. We all know what they say about paybacks!