Some places are associated with very special memories, which can often go back quite a long way. We have images of these past events in our minds forever, even if they can become blurred and rather unclear over time. For me, one of these places is the Oberbaum Bridge in the heart of Berlin, which connects the two districts of Friedrichhain and Kreuzberg. During the division of Berlin, this bridge was rarely used, but since 1989 it has really come back to life. When the Wall came down, this bridge was finally restored to its connecting function, and this is where my own memories of this red brick begin.
But when you approach the Oberbaumbrücke these days and want to cross it, these warm memories of such a cheerful occasion in European history quickly give way to harsh reality. Some bridges not only connect, but are also a place to linger. Here on this noisy bridge, right next to the fast-moving traffic, this feeling is rather limited.
It may feel different depending on the time of day, but it can certainly get uncomfortable here, especially if you dare to get very close. It is more advisable to view this magnificent building from afar, with a little distance, which may help to keep your own memories warm. Our past and its memories can only rarely keep pace with the present and its reality, no matter how much we wish they could.
So it's better to keep a little space between you and there, which can also help us to sort and categorize our own memories a little better. There is no question that we want to preserve them. But sometimes that requires a little ignorance. Bad eyesight can also be quite helpful, as it helps to block out some events even more, which the older you get, the less you want to have to do with. At least that's how I feel at the moment, which I'm willing to admit quite openly.
I'm not saying that everything was better in the past. It certainly wasn't, but thanks to my youthful ignorance, I simply overlooked and suppressed a lot of what was already wrong back then. Perhaps it didn't bother me at all, as younger age often goes hand in hand with more tolerance and acceptance. We don't need to discuss the sense and nonsense of this here, as that would once again go beyond the scope of this post.
I therefore don't wish that I could turn back time at all. I would rather be able to continue to accept and embrace the world around me as it is. Or at least have the strength to bear it without too much effort. But I'm finding that increasingly difficult, and that applies to quite a few places in Berlin's city center. Most of the places where I used to feel most comfortable are now no longer appealing to me anymore. The physical distance of the last few years has probably played a big part in this, but we've all moved on as well. We have to accept that, lamenting doesn't get us anywhere. Even though, from time to time it might be appropriate to take a moment to reflex and think. We are all allowed a personal snapshot, and it's usually better to be honest with ourselves.
Then you can usually manage to preserve the memories mentioned at the beginning, which are no longer quite so fresh, and warm them up again. After all, warm memories are good for us and they are especially good for our hearts. Anyone who rejects them is not doing themselves any favors. And that's why it's sometimes a wise idea to return to places like this one, at least from time to time. If only to reassure yourself that this place really exists and that you have been here yourself.
The walk on memory lane can sometimes be a little bumpy or thorny, but we better walk it.
