I´ll Cross That Bridge When I Come To It

What if our residency cards paperwork is lost? What if I don't get my travel paperwork in time for my trip? What if my computer needs to be replaced? What if I have a middle seat on my flight to New York? Well, I guess I'll just have to cross those bridges when I come to them.

(FRONT) LAS DELICIAS BRIDGE, A LIFT BRIDGE (1990); AND 5TH-CENTENNIAL BRIDGE (1991).
SOUTHERN-MOST BRIDGES IN SEVILLA. I HAVEN'T NEEDED TO CROSS THEM.

"Don't sweat the small stuff... It's all small stuff" is great advice. And when I'm in a calm and rational state of mind, it makes perfect sense and I agree whole-heartedly. However, when I'm in the midst of sweating the small stuff, I have a few choice words (that I don't express) for anyone who uses those little pearls of wisdom on me. Lately, I've been sweating the small stuff.

FRIDAY. LOOKING BACK AT THE BRIDGE I HAD JUST CROSSED. GLAD I DIDN'T BURN IT.
THE LOS REMEDIOS BRIDGE (1968).

What have I been sweating? Our residency card renewals. And of course my "re-admission to Europe" document for use in lieu of my renewed residency card. And then there's the fact that I'm having serious computer problems. And we don't have a car (because we usually like it that way), which means I'm taxiing all over town because it's too hot to walk to my appointments. And I'm cheap (when it comes to myself). Sometimes. Well, when it comes to taxis! Truth is, I just like to walk. Oh, our year-old iron wasn't working properly and had to be replaced (it was... easily... at no charge, for an even better one). And then, four light bulbs burned out and I had to go buy new ones. And the ceiling lights require me to pull out the 7-foot ladder. I think installing the new bulbs took an entire 6 minutes.

LOOKING SOUTH AFTER PASSING THE SAN TELMO BRIDGE (1931) TO TRIANA.

Monday afternoon, as you may remember, I will head back over to the Foreigners Office at Plaza de España with the expectation that a document will be waiting for me that will enable me to visit The Dowager Duchess and The Kid Brother and then return to Europe less than three months later. I will also ask for a status report on our missing-in-action renewed residency cards. I was in the GoldenMac store near our house for a new battery Friday morning. That didn't completely resolve my problems. San Geraldo has done everything he knows to do to resolve the issues. It looks like I need a new mother board (which I have been referring to as a "mother ___ board"... you can fill in the blank). However, needing a new mother board is much better than needing a new computer.

KNOWN AS ISABEL II OR TRIANA BRIDGE (1852).

The straw that broke the camel's back Friday? It was after siesta, so I was about to go out and catch a cab to Los Remedios to take my laptop into GoldenMac's service center (the store near us is sales only) when I realized I didn't have my wallet. It wasn't in my computer case or the front pocket of my shorts — the two usual places. I checked every room in the house. Shuffled through all the crap on my dresser and desk, and bitched at myself for not cleaning up my mess. I walked into the bathroom and yelled a really bad word (a variation on the one I've been using between "mother" and "board"). And then I calmed down.

AND FURTHER NORTH, ANOTHER BRIDGE TO TRIANA.
FORMALLY KNOWN AS BRIDGE OF THE HOLY CHRIST OF THE EXPIRATION (1991).
ALSO KNOWN AS CACHORRO BRIDGE, I JUST CALL IT THE BRIDGE WITH THE CANOPIES.

I was about to walk back over to the GoldenMac store I had visited earlier, hoping I had left my wallet there. But I had the sudden urge to feel my left butt cheek. And, when I did, I discovered that someone had put my wallet in my back pocket! I never put my wallet in my back pocket. Not since I realized (in my 20s) that doing so ruins the line of one's butt. I finally laughed, stuck my wallet in my computer bag, and I caught that cab. I'm sure San Geraldo breathed a huge sigh of relief when the door closed behind my smooth butt.

PASSARELA DE LA CARTUJA (GATEWAY TO LA CARTUJA).
A MOSTLY PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE TO THE ISLAND.

A great guy at GoldenMac gave me (yes, gave me free of charge) a small part that he hoped would resolve any remaining problems — since of course we could not get the problem to recur in the store. He said if it happened again, I should bring the laptop back in Monday for service. My laptop has only spontaneously shut down twice since then. But it shouldn't spontaneously shut down at all. So, it's back to Service I go before I head back into the Foreigners Office and the clutches of La Rubia (although I hope she has the day off). Ironically, I have been sitting here for 2 hours without one technical glitch.

BARQUETA BRIDGE (1992).
I TOOK A WALK TODAY TO VISIT THIS ONE NORTH OF HOME.

To clear my head Friday evening, I walked home from Los Remedios and decided to take pictures of Sevilla's bridges across the Guadalquivir River, the bridges I've crossed, the ones I've yet to cross, the ones I'll cross again, and the ones I will not burn. San Geraldo and I went out for dinner Friday night and I had one very large gin and tonic. I expect I'll need another one Monday.

PHOTO FROM LAST YEAR (THE BRIDGE STILL LOOKS THE SAME).
ALAMILLO BRIDGE (1992)