June 27, 2007
Painted-over grafitti on 360 Bridge
I don't get a good look at the details of the 360 Bridge (officially called the Pennybacker Bridge, as I learned during the Austin Past and Present documentary the other day) on my drive to work -- there's not usually much traffic, and I'm speeding past. But on the way home, I often end up stopped on the bridge briefly (or longer).
At first, it was a little unnerving to be stuck on the bridge, because it vibrates. I started wondering how sturdy the bridge actually was, what the engineering principles were behind this kind of bridge, and if we would all instantly die if the damn thing broke. I had this combination of an Irwin Allen disaster film and The Stunt Man in my head. This is not a pleasant way to spend your commute.
I've been taking photos of my commute when I get stuck in traffic. At first, the wildflowers lured me, but the exercise turned out to be a wonderful distraction. Instead of griping about being stuck on Capitol of TX Hwy, I would take pictures. Half the photos are crap, but it doesn't matter. It's become more difficult to feel motivated to take pictures now that the wildflowers are gone, but I can still find the occasional interesting view. And I take tons of photos on the 360 Bridge when I'm stuck, because then I don't notice the vibrations and wonder about the stability.
It's been difficult for me to snap a photo of the painted-over grafitti on the 360 Bridge on my way home, because somehow I always end up 25 feet behind or 30 feet ahead. I felt very fortunate to be able to take this picture.
Every time I see the grafitti, I wonder what exactly was written behind those painted-over blocks. Sometimes I wonder who would have the nerve to walk on the bridge and lean over to paint on it -- I couldn't. I wish I could see their names or read their messages just once.