The best thing about my apartment is location. Yes, it is located in St. Petersburg but its located at the northern tip right between the two bridges to Tampa. My temp job hunt began in Tampa. Why you ask? Because that means I get the privilege of crossing one of the bridges everyday if I do land the job.

Most people wouldn’t consider crossing the bridge a luxury but that is because they are too consumed with living in 2012 to stop and realize what they are actually missing. Unlike crossing the potholed Kennedy bridge in Louisville, the integrity of this structure is actually quite pleasant. There’s not a million poorly planned on and off ramps within a mile’s span causing congestion either.

Now I will say I’ve not had the misfortune of crossing this bad boy during rush hour. I would assume the experience is quite different. Probably a stand still. But I’ve always been a fan of traffic jams, they’re like a Tetris puzzle of car pieces that need to be solved in my mind.

Even with a stand still though, people should stop and take the time to absorb the beauty. Just when I was crossing it yesterday I was overwhelmed with the beauty it possesses. There were several swarms of seagulls flying high above the bridge. I watched one spin in several circles then perform a straight nose dive towards the water to grab its prey. It was quite the spectacle.

I guess I should note that the Howard Franklin Bridge gaps the Old Tampa Bay and it is lays rather close to the water. At some points you actually feel like your on a natural land bridge between the two pieces of land.

There was a lot of wind on this particular day. I could see the waves of the water being quite turbulent as I envisioned myself in another life time being a surfer. As I came closer towards the St. Pete side, the waves began crashing up against the water barriers and splashing towards the roadway. This sight made my drive that much more enjoyable.

It is my hopes that those given the opportunity to actually cross this bridge in the near future don’t think of it as a chore but rather an opportunity to soak in the natural wildlife in a seemingly endless metropolis of outlet malls. Or the opportunity to see open blue ocean water in every direction. Or even the beautiful waterfront structures and Tampa skyline that has been established along the bay.

“It’s hard to stay mad when there’s so much beauty in the world.”