Marriage Moats-Bridge Closed for Repairs

Published: Wed, 01/16/13

Marriage Moats

Caring for Marriage

The bridge near my house is closed for repairs. Previously I traveled on it four times every day, sometimes pausing to glance at the view of the Pennypack flowing underneath. After a storm the water level churned like a swarm of wasps looking for someone to blame. On sunny mornings it lolled along, a perfect place to play Pooh sticks.

But for the last few weeks a trail of other commuters and I have had to find another path, one that is annoyingly longer. As detours go it is still a minimal inconvenience, at least compared to my son's traffic flow when they close Hollywood Boulevard during the Oscars. I heard a string of complaints when it first happened. I wondered too if the sudden decision was based on real danger. The bridge certainly looked secure to my untrained eyes. But perhaps architects have seen enough catastrophes to err on the side of caution.

There is another path in my daily routine that has been blocked. The parking lot where I teach has a subsidiary entrance to the local thrift store, and the powers that be decided it was increasing the speed and amount of cars, so they closed it. Shoppers are redirected to the gravel driveway where no children are likely to be in harm's way. Some folks grumbled, but the safety manager and his committee felt like protecting little kids trumped the habits of bargain hunters.

I am getting used to both shifts. I admit to having been frustrated at first, but now it is sinking into the routine of what is expected. I hardly ever head down the wrong road and have to turn around.

My father had rules to keep his marriage safe. When he counseled young women he made sure there was someone else in the house. It was probably a bother, resulting in a few rescheduled appointments. Maybe there were clients who thought it was a tad overzealous. They had not the slightest interest in a graying father of four. But he made a decision to protect his marriage and reputation, and he stuck to it. I respect him for it.

I am grateful for people who learn about construction, so that I can simply put my foot on the gas and go. It never occurs to me to wonder if the concrete below my tires will crumble.

I am thankful as well to those people who make rules to safeguard marriages. There are companies that will not send male and female employees alone on a business trip if one of them is married. I have heard from bosses who institute policies about modest dress at work. This is based on experience and research. Affairs happen in the workplace.

Marriages deserve to be protected.

Photo by Brita Conroy

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