From a bridge's perspective

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My story of 96 years young,
I appreciate you taking some time out of you day to read my story. I have been around for a long time. How long you ask 96 years. Yeah I know I am old but not pushed off by everyone. My story begins back in 1923 when my parents decided to have me. Their names were Mr. Riley and Mrs. Bailey. They spent a lot of time planning my life and success they wanted me to hang around a long time. I am lucky to have had them as parents. Their attention to the small things in my foundation as an infant were done with my best interest at heart. During my early days I had the opportunity to see the "roaring" times of my great county I was born into the United States of America. As I aged I built friendships and admiration for my homeplace. It was deep in the Ozarks of Missouri at the Gasconade River. I lived near beautiful thickets of trees, babbling(sometimes gushing) waters, wildlife, and naturally many fish. These things often provided me peace and solace during my days. I've gotten a chance to meet many people during my life. People such as Presidents, governors, senators, congress members, many Americans and foreigners. These people all passed by and some even stopped to say hello and admire where I lived after all it's so beautiful here. Im very lucky to have spent my life so far in "God's country" the Ozarks. I'm thankful that some of my friends and relatives help to launch a road nearby they named it something very special "Route 66". This road was heavily travelled for years bringing the people above to see me. As time went by I saw may good thing and unfortunately some bad. The river sometimes got out of it's banks, wrecks happened to some of my friends in coming to see me. I really care about these people and my home place so I've fought hard through the years to hold on. The famous Route 66 I loved so much because of it I met and saw all these things and people. Has fallen into disrepair and has been replaced with something called an "interstate" I have no idea what that is but I don't like it! I no longer get to see my friends I have grown to love so much. Looks like up on the hillside I see cars and trucks passing so fast it's hard to tell. Maybe that's the "interstate". I hope not because as fast as the people travel on it how can they enjoy the beautiful countryside? About the time I give up and get lonely I hear noise and a roar from around the bend in Route 66 and I see some of my friends some old and some new coming to see me. There are many of these friends I've known for years and some only a short time. I am thankful for each and every one of them. There is one vehicle driven by a young man that always sticks out because it's so different. Thanks for asking what it looks like. It's red and black with all sorts of stickers, and words all over it, and for some reason people have signed their names on it. Maybe I can sign my name on it one day? When all my friends come down to see me they often are silent and kinda somber some of them pull out a phone or camera and take pictures of me this always make me feel good. I guess this means I still mean something to some people. There are times they have gatherings and have speeches about me and even at feverish pitches when they come for a visit. Some of them look pretty important they have special brightly colored vests and hard hats on. Maybe as may bones get old and brittle and my health is failing those are the medial team and support system coming in to try to help me make it to the 100 year mark. I've always wanted to make it on that Smucker's Jar and hear Al on the Today show talk about me. I'm really hopeful this will happen! Looks like there are many people that still care about an old soul like me. Stay tuned for more fireside chats from old Gasconade by the way my closest friends call me Gas.

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