I Got Bridged

For me, it seems that God puts people in my life that I continue learning incredible lessons from and to help to shift my perspective. I’ve only known Freddy Petrone for just over a year, but truly believe my friendship with him to fit with this pattern. I’m certain that I actually saw Freddy as he walked through Portsmouth on one of his countless multiple mile trudges through town long before we actually met. Freddy is a pretty memorable guy; in addition to his friendly persona, Freddy walks with a guide cane because he is blind. Freddy was 45 when a diagnosis of LHON (Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy), a rare genetic disorder, caused him to lose his vision. Now, what’s this have to do with a bridge?

Connecting Portsmouth, NH to Kittery, ME is the Memorial Bridge, a drawbridge spanning the Piscataqua River which frequently raises to allow the safe flow of boat traffic. Often disrupting his journeys, Freddy began to referring to these occurrences as “Getting Bridged.” When thought of in this way, the term “bridged” infers that someone is getting the short end of the stick, often conveyed resentfully, and commonly with stronger language! Curious as to the definition of bridge, I found Merriam-Webster’s primary meaning of bridge as “a structure carrying a pathway or roadway over a depression or obstacle.” While the genesis of Freddy’s using the term came from the interruption in his walk, this seeming inconvenience provided a fitting name for an amazing non-profit initiative: I Got Bridged!

Rather than focus on the obstacle impeding the journey, Freddy saw how alike we all are in that we run in to unpanned instances of “getting bridged” along our journeys. Whether it’s an injury, illness, or sudden loss that presents the challenge; struggle and the need to adapt to changing circumstances seems to be a fundamental part of the human experience. While each of our individual “depressions or obstacles” appear in different forms, looking for opportunities to help others presents the chance of providing a proverbial bridge to people in need of a hand. Through fundraising efforts such as shoveling snow in the winter, selling IGB logoed merchandise, to support from individuals in the community, IGB has been able to directly assist many on the Seacoast: Whether by providing hot chocolate to food pantry volunteers, cell phone access to those in need, or even a warm coat where needed, helping others is always IGB’s compass!

I’ve been fortunate to work with the I Got Bridged team a bit and it has really got me to focus on how fortunate I’ve been in so many ways! First off, I have an incredibly supportive network of family and friends that seems to grow as time passes. Not to mention that I am blessed to live in the Seacoast close to my family with a loving four-legged roommate named Clooney. I wish I could say that gratitude comes naturally to me or that I’m naturally full of appreciation for the grace in my life, but at times it sure takes intentional effort. However, nothing has magnified the feeling of gratitude like taking the opportunity of “carrying a pathway or roadway over a depression or obstacle” for others!

For more information on I Got Bridged and its’ great work in the community, visit https://www.igotbridged.com/ !