By Gil Kiekenapp

More to come
 
“London Bridge is falling down!” we children chanted as playground participants in a whimsical game-ritual exercise of survival luck. It never even entered my mind back then that any bridge that appeared as big and solid as London Bridge could ever simply “fall down.”
 
Even today when a bridge falls down, or a plane flies into a building, or a major disaster occurs “on our watch” in this life, we respond with, “it defies logic!”
 
On network news rehashes of disasters I keep hearing that people are pondering what has happened and are “trying to make sense of it.” Excuse me, “make sense of” a senseless disaster!?!  I've got to wonder if maybe we are looking for logic in all the wrong places.  How really permanent or ultimately logical is anything in this physical universe?
 
Our “watch” on this earth is merely some 70, 80, 90, or maybe even 100 years (with a little bit 'o luck). I'm wondering if the ultimate logic I look for must not be outside this really relatively short envelope of time. I cannot help but wonder if ultimate logic and sense are perhaps not to be found in this humanly manipulated physical world we see, hear and touch, but rather in the spirit world of what was before we began our “watch” and what will be after we finish our 70, 80, or 90 year “watch.” I'm thinking that my brief “watch stint” now is but a preparation for participation in the endless state to follow. Many do agree that there must be more to come.
 
One local wag was heard to say, “I'm all for progress, it’s change that irritates me!”
 
Times change, bridges fall down, what has been built deteriorates and institutions no longer seem to fit society's needs. Some 35 years ago, the Minnesota Senior Federation was built as a bridge between the aging population's problems and potential solutions to those dilemmas. We have just completed the last of several bridge inspections and guess what...our rating seems to be “insufficient” given our current structural engineering. 
 
An aging population still exists; problems for our aging folks continue to be evident and potential solutions are still out there. But...the bridge needs to be rebuilt and it needs to be done now! 
 
Architects are drawing up plans even as we speak (write) and we'll start laying foundation and erecting superstructure at October's state convention. We look over our 35-year history with pride and recognize that a great deal has been accomplished. On our relatively short “watch” miracles have happened and we should be proud of our participation in their happening.
 
But let there be no doubt about it, the bridge needs to be rebuilt. Although we may all be pro-progress, it's the changes that may irritate you somewhat. But, with the wisdom of aging as our guide, we'll get over the irritation, and many do agree that there must be more to come!