Fun Friday is a day for … FUN! I’ll post a variety of pictures, quotes, facts, etc., about characters and places – both real and fictional – that are in the novels I write. I will then have you either guess something about what I posted, such as what is the name of this location or why do you think a character said this or that in a scene, or I may show pictures of “the real people” for some characters mentioned in my books, or … just whatever floats my boat that Friday!
Let the fun begin!
Pictured in today’s post is the Loop 360 Bridge in Austin, Texas. This AWESOME bridge is a great place to walk (or bicycle) along the side and to look below at beautiful Lake Austin. Actually, looking below, above, around – you’ll view spectacular scenery in any direction! The Hill Country; Austin’s downtown skyline; a golf course – you name it!
I took all the photos pictured in today’s post, but if you want to see some real wonders – check out this stock photo site (especially the fireworks pix): http://herronstock.photoshelter.com/gallery/360-Bridge-on-Lake-Austin-Texas-Pennybacker-Bridge-Stock-Photo-Image-Gallery/G0000KIjdzPG0czM/
During a quick info search today, I just discovered some very interesting facts about this bridge. First, it was built in 1982, which was only six years before my high school sweetheart and I used to visit it. I recall it “having always been there.”
Second, its “real name” is “The Percy V. Pennybacker Jr. Bridge.” (I lived in Austin for over 20 years and never knew that!)
Third, 10 years after construction completed, members of the Consulting Engineers Council of Texas picked the bridge as the most innovative example of Austin architecture. (I wonder what my civil engineer husband thinks about that!)
(facts above taken from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennybacker_Bridge)
My Christian contemporary romance novel Love, Texas – Population 2 talks about heroine Rebekah and hero Joel experiencing a lot of happy moments at this bridge. Unfortunately, this is also the location where Joel rips Rebekah’s heart in two.
He tugged at my hand to pull me from my sitting position, but I wouldn’t budge. I couldn’t budge. I could do nothing but sit there. Silent. Joel took his hands and forced me to my feet, then he dragged me behind him, like a rag doll.
After four or five steps, the heavy clank! of support cables banged against the metal bridge and snapped me out of shock. The stage of shock, anyway, that at first immobilized my vocal cords.
Joel continued to pull me along behind him, his face and body forward, his left arm stretched back to tug on my right hand. Holding hands. The tears started when I focused on his lean, but muscular forearm and his fingers intertwined with my own. The last time we will ever hold hands.
Clank! Clank! The wind shoved the support cables into the rust-colored bridge arches. The cables smacked the bridge silly. Smacked it senseless. What could be more senseless than this moment? This piece of time when Joel Foster wants me to understand.
How about you? Have you ever visited this bridge, and if so, do you associate happy or sad memories with it? If you’ve never been here, what place have you visited that makes you cry—either tears of sorrow or tears of joy? Please type your answers in the “Leave a Reply” box below.
