Magic covered bridge

 Photo by Patrick Thurman

During a trip to Indiana, a truly remarkable situation happened to bring together two families that were complete strangers.  The meeting place was the charming Beanblossom Covered Bridge.  Last month it was surrounded with colorful foliage of early fall.

While two people were visiting the bridge to take photographs, another group approached on a special mission.  The Bradley family had been to the bridge one other time in the 1960s, over forty years before.  Their mission was to recreate the treasured photo when the daughters were little girls.  However on this day when they headed for the bridge, their designated photographer had canceled at the last minute.  Undaunted, the family had already traveled from California and was determined to make it happen.  They decided to head for the bridge with faith and hope that someone would be there to help them.  

When the van came over the bridge, sure enough they weren’t alone.  One of the Bradley girls jumped from the van and ran to the only other car.  She clutched the treasured original family photo in her hand and waved excitedly to the unfamiliar people in the car.  The situation was quickly explained and the woman in the car was happy to help them out.

Original Bradley Family 1960s

A half-hour later the task was completed.  The stand in photographer was a visitor from Arizona.  Many hugs and thank yous were exchanged before the families parted and a strong warm feeling surrounded the group.  It was a magical moment they shared and will always remember.  Two families brought across the country from the Southwest, to be in the same place at the same time, to photograph the magical moment in time.

Photo by Sue Thurman

Oddly enough, our trip was postponed from September to October.  That particular autumn day was the only day we could be at Beanblossom Bridge.  Perfect synchronicity.