Phony Vacancies

Ah, I get it; we’ll have a marching band play splendid tunes while our loved ones jump from Cold Spring Bridge [News, “Celebrating the Bridge,” 11/12/09]. Of course, this will bring lightness to the festive occasion and doubly recognize the bridge as a place of beauty. I can’t wait. Maybe we can sell tickets to raise money for the recovery, a nice casket, and even a proper burial.

Me, rather than be in denial, I prefer to call it like it is, the Bridge of Death. I’d rather move forward on this issue, put up the barrier, maybe save one life. I’ll contribute $100; anyone care to match me? It’s a small price to pay. Smaller than the constant memory of my good friend who jumped back is 1992. He was only 19. I wonder if he screamed on the way down, changed his mind at the last second, wishing there had been a barrier telling him his life had value, and that, more than anything else, we did in fact care about him. – James Smallwood