on overhead bridges

When I was younger, I remember being very afraid of overhead bridges. These were the functional green bridges with gaps in between the steps, and I was afraid that my feet would slip through and somehow I would fall. I recall vividly one incident when my brother sat at the top step and refused to go down because he was afraid to walk down lest he fall (yes we're all very wimpy that way...)

naturally as time went on they stopped building those bridges with big gaps (do i only feel that way because i'm older? but they do really look more concrete to me) and with shelters and bougainvilela growing nicely on the side i was no longer afraid of crossing overhead bridges. in fact, i quite liked them (except the one outside our church because that usually has people drinking on it) because they gave a different view of the world and it was a nice and peaceful experience just walking across them.

Until now.

Yesterday, when going for my usual appointment at TMC, I had to trudge from Novena Square to TMC along Upper Thomson Road (i think). It's not a long route, just 2 bus stops away, but what made it unbearable (at least for me) was the fact that there weren't any pedestrian crossings at the traffic light. instead, there were 3 bridges for me to choose from. I studied each one carefully and mentally estimated which had the least number of steps to climb, and decided to take the one nearest to TMC.

going up was 20 + 19 steps. the gradient wasn't steep, but the very act of climbing the steps left me panting slightly. and then there was the long passageway to cross before climbing another 19 + 18 steps down. around me people were walking briskly and getting to their destination quickly, and i was this unfit pregnant woman slowly struggling to make my way across...

i comfort myself with the fact that this is going to be over soon. (in a week's time! no less) but i wonder how do the elderly who have difficulty in even walking on flat ground manage it? can u blame them for wanting to jaywalk? or not wanting to go out because of the many obstacles in their way?

meantime, i shall help (or at least give an encouraging smile) to my fellow sufferers on overhead bridges...