I cross it nearly ever day leaving my house. It’s the fastest route to the interstate, and is a great cut-through to head towards the opposite side of town. I avoid traffic when I cross over and then shortcut through the neighborhood that is adjacent to mine. For sure, it’s the best way for me to get most anywhere.
The bridge is just 5 houses down from mine. Crossing a lush green golf course that I can’t see very well for the tall fences on either side, passing over it takes me to a completely different space.
We just moved to a new house less than 2 months ago. I hadn’t even been in this neighborhood before we found this house and am having to learn my way around this different part town. Nevermind that Greenville has been my home for nearly 20 years, this move has exposed me to unfamiliar areas, and I learn new shortcuts (and sometimes long-cuts) several times per week.
The neighbors tell me that our street used to be a dead end until the builders doing work on the golf course created the bridge to provide easier access to the work they were doing. Now two neighborhoods are connected, that to be honest, are really super different from one another.
It didn’t take us long to realize the massive economic disparity that separates our respective neighborhoods. Friends would call on the way to visit for the first time, sounding a little nervous and saying, “um…I think we’re lost. The GPS says we’re close, but it really doesn’t look like it.”
“Just cross the bridge and we’re just a few houses in,” I’d tell them. “I promise, you’re in the right place.”
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