First I must defend the fantastic bridges of New York City. There is nowhere else that better demonstrates the spirit of destiny embraced by Americans through much of our history than in the bridges of New York City. They are massive structures that conquer mud and rock and seawater and views and they demand respect. They took miles of cable and tons of steel and millions of rivets and scores of lives. Even ten years after you left them they evoke emotion. To disregard them took effort. There’s some irony there.

OK. I give. I studied civil engineering and I’m a little biased. I love this stuff.

Love. That’s what I saw in your post. It’s in every paragraph. The joy, the sadness, and the fear. It’s all about love.

What did the old bridge know? It has borne more than I could ever fathom. Hopefully it passed it all on to the new bridge. The new is never the same as the old. It’s got no grit, no veteran mettle. But it will. It’ll earn its chops too.