San Francisco: A minimalist, Wedgewood-blue sky overlaid with brushstrokes of horsetail clouds. And the Bridge. Humming, thrumming Dutch Master-red contours of cables and concrete that talked to us as we walked its span.
I and my daughter and 7,000 other Girl Scouts and their moms (and some dads) were there to walk the Golden Gate Bridge last Saturday as part of the Golden Gate Bridging event that marks 5th- and 6th-grade girls’ transition from Junior to Cadette Girl Scout.
The symbolism seems particularly appropriate at this age. All legs and elbows and “Wow! You’ve gotten tall!,” the girls still want mom nearby but probably won’t for much longer, or at least won’t own up to it. Their lives are still wide open, their potential as vast as the ocean that spreads out from beneath our feet.
At the end of the almost two-mile walk our troop comes together for photographs and the parents surprise the girls with new Cadette sashes before we head down to the park at Crissy Field to do our own thing for a few hours at the festivities there.
Our previous late night in the hotel and full morning of sun and exercise has taken a bit of a toll on my daughter and me so we find a shady spot under a tree and I sit cross-legged with my back against a boulder. She first lays down on the grass and then, in a gesture which surprises and touches me, crawls over to nestle in my lap. I put my arms around her and we rest for a long time before we get up.
Although the weekend was packed with a lot of activities, what I will remember most is the weight of her 10-year-old’s body resting into mine, head leaning against my cheek, long legs draped out in front. As we rested, ankle-high blades of tender grass flickered rich Celtic shades of green with each gust of wind and the swish-splash of the waves against the breakers provided accompaniment to girls on a Bridge to Somewhere.
Sounds like a beautiful day!
Posted by: Alan | May 13, 2009 at 07:37 PM
It was a great day. We got really lucky with the weather, too. I was in SF last year this same time, and while sunny, it was much chillier and windier then. Saturday was really a perfect day for the event.
Posted by: Louise | May 14, 2009 at 09:30 PM
Louise, as you know, my two daughters and I were there to share in the glorious ceremonious crossing of the bridge. They were truly happy as it was an event they had been looking forward to for months and one I'm sure one they will never forget!
Particularly noteworthy was how many of girls in the troop were surprised with their first "limo" ride ever, since the regular shuttle vans to the bridging ceremony were all booked! As they sipped 7-ups and Coca Colas in champagne glasses on the way to the bridge, they were ecstatic, giggling, and snapping pictures along the way - truly "stars" on their way to a "big event!"
How great that we as moms could be there with our daughters for such a special, memorable event.
Karen
Posted by: Karen Peltier-Rishmawi | May 18, 2009 at 08:07 PM
Last year, my daughter bridged up from Brownies to Juniors at Balboa Park. :)
Looking forward to meeting you tomorrow!
Posted by: Barrie Summy | May 18, 2009 at 10:27 PM
I realized that we managed to be out of town for both the Daisy-to-Brownie bridging held at our school and the Brownie-to-Junior bridging at Balboa Park. I'm glad that if we could only make one it was this one! Thanks for finding me here on my blog :-) I am also looking forward to meeting you tomorrow for Author Day.
Posted by: Louise | May 18, 2009 at 11:02 PM