New Horizons – Bridge over Mississippi River

Posted on by Prior...
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photo by Y. Prior: Crossing The Mississippi River, June 2016

mississippi-river-june-2016

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These photos are my entry for the weekly photo challenge: New Horizons.

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When I think of the The Mississippi River – two things come to mind:

First, the east-west comparisons that older folks used to make.  For example, someone would say, “This is the best Mexican food you will find east of the Mississippi.” I do not hear this used for comparing too much these days, but once in  while I will use it in a convo. 

Second, I often think of Mark Twain – don’t some of you?

Well here is a little bit of info (from Berkley Library here) about Mark Twain and The Mississippi River:

The Mississippi River

“Half twain! Quarter twain! M-a-r-k twain!”

For most people, the name “Mark Twain” is virtually synonymous with the life along the Mississippi River immortalized in the author’s writing. Clemens first signed his writing with the name in February 1863, as a newspaper reporter in Nevada. “Mark Twain” (meaning “Mark number two”) was a Mississippi River term: the second mark on the line that measured depth signified two fathoms, or twelve feet—safe depth for the steamboat. In 1857, at the age of twenty-one, he became a “cub” steamboat pilot. The Civil War ended that career four years later by halting all river traffic. Although Clemens never again lived in the Mississippi valley, he returned to the river in his writing throughout his life. And he visited a number of times, most notably in 1882 as he prepared to write Life on the Mississippi, his fullest and most autobiographical account of the region and its inhabitants, and again in 1902 when he made his final visit to the scenes of his childhood.

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Have a nice day….

47 thoughts on “New Horizons – Bridge over Mississippi River”

  2. Beautiful photos. I like Mark Twain. I knew the term but it always makes me wonder about traveling in a time where you measured depth with a rope to determine if it was safe to continue.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Fabulous pictures. Is this in St. Louis, MO? I used to study there but never realized there was such a beautiful bridge… Well I guess we too I 64 when we travelled east-west.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi tms, actually no, But I do have shots of a bridge near St Louis – crossing the Missouri River.

      and here is a collage I made with a few photos of this bridge to show you more.

      thanks for the comment too

      Like

  7. Great images! When I think of the Mississippi, I remember learning to spell the word — forwards and backwards — when I was really little. I have absolutely no idea why a child from Kirkcaldy, Scotland would need to be able to do that. The mind certainly is a weird thing.

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    1. ha – well just so you know, every time I typed it in for this post – I hummed some kind of version of the recitation spelling…. so we have that in common – but you made me laugh because all Scots must love the gool ol’ Mississippi, Su!

      and do you ever count with the word inserted?

      One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three

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  9. Pingback: New Horizon: Elections | What's (in) the picture?

        1. and here is a Twain quote for DawD

          I notice that you use plain, simple language, short words and brief sentences. That is the way to write English – it is the modern way and the best way. Stick to it; don’t let fluff and flowers and verbosity creep in. When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don’t mean utterly, but kill most of them – then the rest will be valuable. They weaken when they are close together. They give strength when they are wide apart. An adjective habit, or a wordy, diffuse, flowery habit, once fastened upon a person, is as hard to get rid of as any other vice.
          – Mark Twain in a Letter to D. W. Bowser, 3/20/1880

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        2. Cool! Relieved as well for adjectives I may be partial to and guilty of using but fluff and flowers are quite beyond me 😉 😀 As for verbosity, I reserve that for my rambling yarns that spread over hundreds of chapters rather than a few hundred words 😀

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        3. hahah

          hope the rest of your lovely day is filled to the brim with healing warmth, rejuvenating rest, mindful exhales, and delightful skies…

          ha – trying to be verbose

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    1. Hmmmm – let’s see- maybe s bit fluffy at times – but your posts are kept succinct and engaging – and the humor you weave in has originality and your voice. So I would not change a thing.
      Now recently I read some posts from a food blogger who overdid the adjectives – and at first it was fun.
      But by the third post I was worn out – and the person really would make good ads with her descriptive skills.
      It also seemed like she was playing with words and indulging in the use of rich adjectives to make her descriptions come alive.
      But at one point I was like “omg – all that to describe the texture of ice cream on a hot summer’s day” – it was over the top – but I also admired the celebration of words and style that was there. It was well done and almost like wearing extra accessories “just because”
      But I have not been able to go back and read more – verbosity can be heavy too.
      Hm

      Liked by 2 people

      1. I love this review Y and thanks for the kind feedback too. Sometimes when I read those more verbose than I, it seems as though a thesaurus exploded on the page and landed in random pieces. I try to remind myself of that vision.

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