The Swinging Rope to Tears in Terabithia

Okay, I have something to say. And when I have something to say, I usually want to blabber about it till I’m blue in the face. And just as long as the people I’m telling the story to nod their heads, look me in the eye, and give me a few good “mmhmm’s” or “oh yeah’s” like they’re following along, I’m content. Be forewarned, it doesn’t have a lot to do with the point of this blog, but I want to write about this all the same.

Okay, so have you read/watched The Bridge to Terabithia? If you haven’t, stop what you’re doing, go read/watch it, and then come back. Because there is something spoiling in here.

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Go on, get out of here.

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For those that stayed tuned in, sit down, strap in, and start mindlessly agreeing with me. I watched the movie for the first time today. I know it’s been out forever, but I still want to talk about it.

Okay, so first of all, there wasn’t a bridge till the very end. What was up with that? I felt a little misled (although you can totally take a metaphoric approach to that and say that the bridge was when they crossed the river and entered Terabithia. Sorry, tangent. I’ll return).

Second of all, I have a love-hate relationship with that movie right now, and I hope you’ll understand why. It’s really sad, but it is so true to life that you can’t help but relate to and love it.

I was COMPLETELY blindsided by the unfortunate event that befell Leslie while Jess went to the art museum. I was in shock when his parents told him the news. It didn’t make sense. I wanted to cry.

What the heck? Leslie and Jess were the best of friends. They had rough moments, but you couldn’t find a better set of friends. They overcame bullies together, kept each other fit by running everywhere they went, and created an entire world with nothing but a few two-by-fours, nails, and a few blankets. They were the two kids down the block that you expected to grow old together, like these guys:

There was no question in my mind that, like Carl and Ellie, they would 1) prepare an adventure book, 2) fix-up the tree house into a permanent home, and 3) plan to visit Paradise Falls together...or something similar.

Until the unthinkable happens, and we lose “Ellie” all over again. I hate it. It’s like a punch in the stomach, a slap in the face. It’s so hard to take, because we’ve learned to love Leslie.

That’s also why I love it though. The relationship and subsequent tragedy is so easy to relate to. You and I have built up extremely close relationships with the people we come to consider our best friends (even if they are rocky friendships to begin with). We push, create with, and share some of our best moments them, propelling us into a friendship that we hope will last forever. Unfortunately, some of these relationships end because of unexpected loss, offense, or distance that pulls these friends apart. Some are shocking and unexpected, while others are drawn out and unnoticed. It’s the shocking ones that affect us the most though, and we’re often left with long-lasting sadness because of it.

Unfortunately, some of these relationships end because of unexpected loss, offense, or distance that pulls these friends apart. Some are shocking and unexpected, while others are drawn out and unnoticed. It’s the shocking ones that affect us the most though, and we’re often left with long-lasting sadness because of it.

The Bridge to Terabithia was one of those shocking ones that reminded me that the people I grow to love can be torn away from me in an instant, at any given time. What a scary thought that is. It’s so scary that I refuse to ever let myself think about it. That doesn’t mean it couldn’t. I virtually experienced that along with Jess as Leslie was taken away and served as a sad reminder to take advantage of every moment you have with those that you’re close with.

I am reminded of this in other movies as well. Like when Frodo leaves Sam behind in the Lord of the Rings, the crew leaves the apartment behind in Friends, Marley dies in Marley & Me, and Gerry virtually dies a second time in P.S. I Love You. I’ve been heard to say that I hate when stories end, and I think that the reason I hate them so much is because I feel like I lose the new friends that I’ve gained through the stories. A lot of them I’ll never see again, and it leaves me empty and sad for the loss.

Let me know what you think. Do you run into the same issues?

P.S. A lot of these links are random association that I had while writing this.