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The View From Here – What Pegman Saw

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This week Pegman is in Portland, Oregon. Your mission is to write up to 150 words inspired by the location. Feel free to use the image supplied with the prompt, or choose your own view of Portland in streetview or photosphere.

Once your piece is polished, share it with others at the link up below. Reading and commenting on others’ work is part of the fun.

I found this story and felt compelled to write it.  Thanks to both Josh and Karen for hosting this fabulous challenge.  Congrats to Karen for passing your certification test! Woot!

Click me to play!

The View From Here

“Vista Bridge is so beautiful”, thinks Bonnie Kahn driving to work.  “So glad I have an office window.”

Walking hurriedly, William Pope makes his way to the bridge, his tall, athletic frame bent over to combat the rain and snow pelting him.

Bud Clark, mayor of Portland, glances out of his apartment window, on his way out the door and freezes.

“Life is just too hard.  I’m done,” says Will under his breath as he reaches the midway point, hops onto the railing, and jumps.

Bud watches in horror, incapable to do anything but witness it.

Bonnie, arriving at her office, stops with a jerk when she sees the body lying in the middle of the road, blood pouring from his ears.

Therese Schwenkler’s phone rings.  “Did you hear what happened to Will?”

 

The fences may be ugly, and people hate them, but since 2013, not a single suicide has occured.

********

I landed on this story quite by accident, looking for inspiration for this Pegman destination.  Here I was thinking I’d be writing about the music or foodie scene.  So much for that!  This bridge was called “Suicide Bridge”, as there was an average of two leaps per year since its official opening on Dec. 6, 1926.   To read more about it, click here.

 

72 thoughts on “The View From Here – What Pegman Saw”

    • Dear Rochelle,

      I know what you mean. I was trying to show how one act affects so many. In this case 150 didn’t feel like it was enough!

      Shalom and lotsa love!

      Dale

      Like

  3. Such a sad tale but well told of intertwined peoples lives. It’s sad that souls believe the world is better off without them and elect to exit that way. It leaves so many lives hurt.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Q,

    I just can’t believe what you came up with here. The sentient vibe runs through this piece. That feeling of complete and utter hopelessness, when you think there is no place else to turn. Holy Moses, it’s a thing and then some.

    I’m really proud of you for coming up with this one. Because it’s not just a great piece of writing, it’s also a real and honest point of view from the worst kind of vantage point. To which most people never get a second chance.

    Marco

    Liked by 1 person

  5. “Dammit, Cheryl, I’m so mad at myself!”
    “What’s wrong now, Ethel?”
    “I forgot to send Dale a birthday card.”
    “You mean that blogger?”
    “How many Dales do you know?”
    “Well, there’s Dale Evens, Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Dale Carnegie, and our favorite actress Dale Dickey… ”
    “Stop, you know who I mean, smartass, you said you liked her stories.”
    “Oh yeah, the one with the big smile, always writing for Rochelle. Let’s sing her Happy Birthday then, Ethel.”
    “Okay!”
    🎶🎶”Happy Birthday, Dear Dalectable!!!”🎶🎶

    Liked by 1 person

    • Aw shucks! Thank you Ethel and Cheryl – through Ted!
      Thanks also for mentioning a couple of female Dales in the bunch (usually I get the hockey players Hunter and Hawerchuck…)
      Much appreciate the song and the mention!
      xoxo

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you Andrea. Would you believe two of the characters each witnessed five and seven suicides? How awful.
      It took them a long time to put up a fence and e en though there have been zero suicides since 2013 some are lobbying to have it removed. I just shake my head at those ones…

      Liked by 1 person

    • And they included phones all along it so people can call for help. At least the Portland one has been 100% effective (last time I checked).
      Yes, I have to agree with you, there are much gentler ways!
      Glad you liked, Violet.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Yikes, such a tragic history for such a beautiful spot. Wonderful job getting across the interconnectedness of all of them.

    Sorry I missed your birthday, but hope you had a great one. HAPPY (Belated) BIRTHDAY & thanks for the congratulations on passing the exam! We’re all meeting in Dream-Portland to celebrate your birthday tonight. See you there!

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Suicide affects many. Your story drove that point home. I half expected to see a link or number for suicide prevention below it. Great story!

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Good write! We have a bridge like that here. The city put up a very, very high mesh fence. YES, it works. At least it keeps people from jumping. Do they find another way? Why is a semi-mystery to me.

    Liked by 1 person

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