BRIDGES OVER PIELISJOKI

It all looks so small now, viewed from the distance of several decades, but a large portion of my life’s experiences revolved around that small island, water and bridges.

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It seems that bridges played a substantial role in my childhood and youth. During those precious years in my life in Joensuu, there were three bridges, Itäsilta (East Bridge), Länsisilta (West Bridge) and Kanavansilta (Channel Bridge.)  Nowadays—at least six, maybe more. In the picture above, the bridge on the left is the Itäsilta, and the other visible one is, of course, the Länsisilta. Kanavansilta, the drawbridge, is located just at the right edge of the photo.

Itäsilta—East Bridge

Länsisilta—West Bridge

Kanavansilta—Drawbridge

My home was in a nearby suburb (first Peltola and then Kettuvaara), about two kilometers from the town center, separated by those three bridges. I crossed them every day either on foot or by bike—to school, church, shopping, library, movies, sports (mainly swimming and ice-skating, according to the season), summer jobs, friends' houses, etc. One of my favorite stops that I made on my way home from school was to see my dad in the venerable old government building, Pielislinna, pictured below, where he worked, employed by the Finnish Army.  I have sweet memories of meeting him there and playing telephone tag with him; he would tap the phone in another office and I would answer. Now, that was really fun for me as a youngster, for we did not have a phone at home.

Pielislinna

I now realize more fully how important that island—called Ilosaari (Happy Island)—was in my growing up years. I learned to swim and dive in the lagoon. Summer theater was always a highlight. That large red-roofed building (referring back to the first photo) was a multipurpose conference center called Karjalantalo (Karelia House) where our church meetings were held for a while. Later on, I worked as a guide at the Pohjois-Karjalan Maakunta Museo (North Karelia County Museum) located at the lower level of that building, as well. In addition, many functions took place there, such as dances and other occasions.

I remember singing there, in a trio with two other girls, as part of the entertainment at a military induction celebration. Yeah, I did that. Finnish folk songs. That I had arranged for three voices, performed a cappella.

Karjalantalo—Karelia House

Uimakoulu—Swimming School

Above, a photo that shows two of the bridges. It also shows the roof (red) of my old school, which later on also housed the city library and an art museum. I worked in the museum as a guide during two summers. This edifice, Joensuun tyttölyseo, is a beautiful landmark and still serves as a splendid example of Jugend architecture (Art Nouveau in America). So many memories, some good, some not so good...

And speaking of school, one high-spirited moment was witnessed by passers-by on one of those bridges after the last examination in high school (ylioppilaskirjoitukset, or "matriculation examination"). On my way home with friends, I threw all my school text books, one by one, down into the river from Itäsilta...  "No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers' dirty looks." And that's the wildest thing I ever did. (If you believe that, you might be of easier credulity than I thought!)

But that's not all where I encountered bridges. Perhaps someone who interprets dreams can tell me why I had persistent nightmares about those bridges. In the dreams, I was always afraid I would fall off and plunge into the rapids that raged underneath. The surface of the West Bridge was made with wooden planks with tiny cracks in between them for draining rain and melting snow, and my fear in the dreams was always that I would fall in between the planks. Come to think of it, I was afraid of that even in real life! Or that the bridge would meander and swerve and I would never get home. Those were real night terrors. So why did I dream such scary things? What do they mean? Have some of the secrets in them come true? Do I even believe in dreams?

I have no answers.