Roads and Bridges...

They provide us with endless metaphors for living. I think of them often; those driven down or run upon. Connectors from here to there... Spans that take us over the gorges of earth and life.

Like this morning.

A big red sun and I. Climbing the hills together. Humid, a bit of haze and me winning the 'who-can-sweat-the-most' prize. Hands-down. Call me Slosher come July...

And there she is; the patch that keeps on getting patched. (I'll probably name her)



Half a mile out in front of a nice little house. It's a piece of the road just off the curb that's about 4 foot square. There was a repair made their initially about six months and at least three times hence.

And it keeps on sinking down.

When it drops about 4 or 5 inches below the street level, the road crew comes back out and makes it pretty; nice and level with new, black asphalt. Perfect. Until it sinks again. Hello?

Evidently, someone believes that by repeating the same steps over again, eventually the results will be different? The 'patch' will finally stop 'sinking'? More likely they do not really care and a return trip is just another half-days paycheck. (A bit cynical, I know. That's post sweaty-run low blood-sugar...)

So 'why' does it keep sinking?

Clearly, in this case, the root cause is not being addressed. But how often does that happen? In road repair or Life? That requires paying attention, assessment, knowledge and the application of it with competence (action).

So; I'm not an engineer. But notes to Road Crew:

Guys (or gals); let's mix it up a bit the next time huh?

Something is eroding this from below. Check? Check.

We need to provide a stable base that will tend to be supported by virtue of the area it displaces sufficient to the force distributed. Check? Check.

And before we cover it up again, maybe first we dig a bit deeper and see what may be causing the erosion. Maybe it's water from a broken pipe nearby? That might be nice to know about, huh? Maybe it's moles? Probably not. (I said I'm not an engineer)

So what I know for sure is, God willing, I'll continue to run over that patch.

And I'll be watching to see if the insanity continues or somebody calls time-out and applies some common wisdom that not only the street but the roads and bridges of our lives can benefit from.

See you tomorrow morning, PatJulee...   ;)