Standing Strong: The Story Behind the Triple Arch Bridge

There are moments in life when a photograph becomes more than a photograph—when it becomes a mirror, a reminder, and a companion on our journey. This image of the historic Triple Arch Bridge outside of Asheville, NC, taken in the autumn of 2021, is one of those for me.

My husband brought me to this spot on a morning when I was struggling—emotionally, physically, and spiritually—through the early stages of recovery from brain tumor surgery. I remember feeling hollowed out, exhausted by pain, and unsure of how to rebuild myself. But as soon as I heard the flow of the water and saw those arches rising out of stone and time, something shifted.

The bridge didn’t look quite the same even then, worn and weathered by storms—two hurricanes in recent years had carved their mark into it. Still, it stood. And that mattered to me in a way I wouldn’t understand fully until years later.

Bridges have always held symbolic weight for me:

A symbol of connection.
They link the known with the unknown—places, people, stages of life. They remind us that even when the path ahead feels uncertain, there is a way across.

A symbol of transition.
A bridge is where “before” becomes “after.” It holds the space between what we leave behind and what we are moving toward. In 2021, recovering from surgery, I lived in that in-between more than ever.

A symbol of resilience.
The Triple Arch Bridge was built in 1937, long before I ever walked its edge or photographed its strength. It has endured decades of storms, floods, and time itself. It has changed, but it still stands—different, yet still purposeful. I feel a kinship with that.

A symbol of nostalgia and quiet history.
Old bridges are silent witnesses. They carry the weight of every story that has crossed them. In that moment, standing by the rushing water, I realized I was becoming one of those stories too.

Yesterday, I was reminded of the meaning this photo carries—not just for me, but for others. A staff member at my neurosurgeon’s office told me how much this image means to patients and to the team who see it every day in the waiting area. I hadn’t expected that… but it touched me deeply.

And now, life brings me full circle once more. My most recent MRI scan shows some new growth, and I’ll be returning to NC, that same office soon to begin my next phase of treatment. Thankfully, no surgery is needed this time. I will be okay. I am okay.

But the timing of that comment—the staff member telling me how meaningful this bridge image is—felt like a gentle nudge from the universe:
Remember what this bridge means. Remember that you’ve crossed hard things before. Remember that you are still standing.

Just like the Triple Arch Bridge.

Changed, but strong. Weathered, but still beautiful. Enduring, but never alone.

And perhaps that is the real story behind this photograph: not just a landscape, not just a structure—but a reminder of resilience, transition, and connection that continues to guide me as I step onto the next bridge ahead.