I can’t count the number of times I’ve walked this trail through the nature habitat that sits on both sides of the river.

Often, I make a quick stop at this bridge to take in the views both ways and to look for wildlife.

Yesterday, I was excited to see the ice almost gone and as I was looking down at the bottom of the bridge, I noticed, for the first time, the memorial message spray painted on the spillway there.

Who was “Dad” and what prompted the no-doubt difficult feat of painting the message in this exact spot? Often, I’ve seen men fishing at this spot, so I wondered if “Dad” had been one of those fishermen. Perhaps “Dad” helped build the bridge, or maybe he sadly met his end at this spot.

“The effects of loss are acute, and unique to each individual. Not everyone mourns in the same way, but everyone mourns.”

Richelle E. Goodrich