Recently we enjoyed an overnight trip to Twin Falls, Idaho, home to three waterfalls:
- Shoshone Falls — known as “Niagara Falls of the West”
- Pillar Falls — 1.5 miles upstream from Perrine Bridge pictured below
- Twin Falls — the city’s namesake
Twin Falls became the center of national attention in September 1974 when daredevil Evel Knievel attempted to jump the Snake River Canyon in a specially modified rocket cycle—a perfect segue for “water under the bridge;” an idiom cliche used to refer to something that’s over, done, and not given much thought.
A similar phrase “much water has passed under the bridge since…” works equally well. Forty-two years have passed since Evel’s failed attempt, and trillions of gallons of water have flowed under the Perrine Bridge.
How much water has passed under your bridge?
Tuesdays with Laurie 
Hi Laurie,
Nice pic – would give my vertigo a hard time I think.
Quite a bit of water under my bridge. Be it in terms of physical things done, or ways of thinking, or topics explored, or assumptions questioned.
The bridge of the eternal now, between the past of experience and the future of possibilities.
Sometimes feels more like the original Tacoma Narrows than the Perrine 😉
Ted — “The Eternal Now” would make a FANTASTIC book title, with the sub-title (tag line) of “between the past of experience and the future of possibilities.”
Yep, I’m saying it again. You’ve got a book inside of you just waiting to bust out! 🙂
How long is a piece of string? Another favourite idiomatic expression of mine. My life is a bridge over troubled waters…
Fatima — “How long is a piece of string?” I love it. Absolutely love it!
There was a restaurant in southern California that bragged on having a salad bar that was “longer than a rope!” 🙂
Brilliant! Wish I could visit! ❤
Plenty of water under my bridge, Laurie. Considering recent world events I’ve realised perhaps too much water has passed under the bridge and it’s time to move on…
Olga — Sometimes moving on is a fantastic idea. Two years ago we picked up and moved from the midwest to the Pacific Northwest and have never once regretted our decision.
Water under bridge for me are hardships growing up, lost loves, and difficult challenges. Looking back I/we know each challenge gets woven into our life tapestry adding to its depth and texture.
Audrey — I love the word picture you painted!
Artistically speaking, it’s the darker colors and shades that make the light, bright ones so brilliant and alluring.
As in life, if it was all bright and shiny, there’d be no depth.
So true!
For the most part, the uncounted gallons of water that flow under my bridge flow relatively smoothly and quietly. There are occasional sections with rocky rapids, of course, but those soon end and life returns to quiet burbles.
Carol — “quiet burbles.” I’m going to steal that 🙂
Lots of water flowing these days under the bridge. I had a small stroke this past week and in hospital for lots of tests which includes a great deal of flow! And lots of thinking good thoughts. MRI was very Zen experience
Now the good Dr is gone on vacation and concern flows the thoughts. Aargh feeling too young for this right now
I don’t know you, Patricia, but I hope you’re feeling better. That must have been very scary–probably still is!
Thank you. Very scary but coming together for strong healing. It’s going to be fine
Patricia, I take heart in the fact that you are able to make this comment and organize your thoughts for a considered reply. Wishing you well and hoping this may have been just a glancing blow.
Terrill, very small stroke can see it on the brain, just affected left ankle and left hand for about 40 minutes. Mind is strong and good – thank goodness, body shaky and tired, tired, and medicines really making me ill I was feeling so healthy and so recovered this is a blow to my excitement. Muscle spasms just exhausting. Pooh things were coming together so well Still able to read 🙂
Patricia — I’m so very sorry to learn that you had a stroke last week. I just ZIPPED YOU IN THE POD https://tuesdayswithlaurie.com/2011/03/03/zipped-in-the-pod/
Thank you Laurie liked being tucked in. Hopefully, never again. Maybe my highest self is meant to keep healing from these things? Can hardly wait to get back walking again. Then I think better and feel happy. Thank goodness I can read, think and talk. Whew!
Patricia:
I too want to join this community in sending you healing thoughts and energy as you move through this experience. Warm wishes.
Thank you. Good thoughts so welcomed.
Thank you for your insights, Laurie! Beautiful bridge and water photo. 🙂
Amy — Thank you so much for stopping by. I always appreciate your visits 🙂
Great picture!! Very thought provoking post. The water can stand for so much in our lives like friendships, troubles, time and more. It seems I have used that phrase only during times of conflict. Conflict is something I try to avoid using better communication in the hopes of not reaching conflict. Took a lot of water under my bridge to reach this stage!! Tina
Tina — “BETTER COMMUNICATION in the hopes of not reaching conflict.”
You’re a great role model and I appreciate YOU 🙂
Thank you Laurie…I’m honored!!!
I have a very bad habit of holding on to perceived (and real) wrongs and slights. Holding on only damages me as the other person has no idea what I’m carrying in my heart. If I let the water flow under the bridge, I gain such a sense of freedom–like wings on a butterfly. I’m learning to let that river run.
Leanne — I love what you’ve shared here. Letting that river flow (instead of damning it up) is exactly what you said: “I gain such a sense of freedom—like wings on a butterfly.” Yes, indeed! 🙂
Some has gone smoothly; some over rocks and small dams, and occasionally getting dammed up for a while.
Lakeafton — What you describe here is a person who’s lived life. To the hilt.
My hat is off to YOU! 🙂
Laurie–how wonderful to have three waterfalls in one area! I’d rather concentrate on the magic of that than the water under the bridge (at least in the idiomatic sense). I’m all for enjoying the flow of the water as it races, thunders, or trickles down the mountain and then flows into the river, and then to the sea. And that can be my metaphor for life as well. 🙂
Merril — flow, Flow, FLOW. Yes, indeed! 🙂
🙂
Ah Laurie, let it flow, let it flow… running wild and free through the canyons of time. Beautiful photograph!
Terrill — “…running wild and free through the canyons of time.” yes, Yes, YES! 🙂
I’ve had enough water flow under my bridge that it’s already collapsed three dams!
Gary — I think you pull off the water-wings, snorkel, and fins look very nicely! 🙂
I’m not focusing on the water that has already flowed under the bridge or that which will flow under it at a future time. I am wading through the flow of water encircling me right now and loving every single moment … the slippery rocks … the little minnows around my feet … and the coolness of a summer breeze.
Joan — Yaaaaaaay! Way to rock it 🙂
I would me a millionaire many time over!
Jeff — Your comment made me smile. Thank you 🙂
you have a wonderful eye for photography, i love this pic!
Water is my natural companion Laurie I am Pisces ☺️ At the moment it is pouring down in buckets here in glorious Wesh Wales it makes the sunshine even more appreciated and makes my flowers grow …if I can as much as gaze into a puddle I’m happy . Colin, my husband is a Capricorn ( an old goat but don’t tell him I told you ) and he’s mad on mountains …yes a lot of water has flowed under my bridge 😂😂😂
Cherryx
Cherry — Your secret about Colin being “an old goat” is safe with me. I promise not to tell a soul 🙂
Great post Laurie! The expression ‘water under the bridge’ for me has always represented the concept that it is best to move on, that what has happened has happened. But the way it is posed here is of course another interpretation. In answer to that so much has passed under my bridge, both good and bad.
Sam — I like your style: “…what has happened has happened.” Or as my mother used to say: “No use crying over spilled milk.”
I read through some (many) of your comments from commenters and thought that most people were saying that a lot of water had flowed under their bridges. Because water, perhaps, seems synonymous with life and experience and happenings. I am wondering why a person might say “nope, not much water has flowed under my bridge.” Laurie? Did anyone say this? And what might it mean?
Kathy — I don’t think any commenters said that very little water had flowed under their bridge.
I’m not positive, but I think a person who would respond in that vein might be on the youngish order with not much life experience under their belt—yet.
Then there are those who might possibly equate “water under the bridge” with negative people, places, things, and events. To my way of thinking, negatives have a way of turning into positives because they add learning opportunities we might have taken a pass on; oftentimes adding layers to our character.
I like how you think! I love the way seeming negatives can turn to positives, and enjoyed reading how you expressed that here. 🙂 Happy 4th in Boise!
Kathy — Happy 4th to you, too, in your little cabin in the BIG woods 🙂
I must be old…I remember Evil Knieval and that jump! I love the sentiment, time is going to pass anyway, what water is under the bridge now?
Michele — Thank you so much for adding to the conversation 🙂
My first reaction? TONS~!! 🙂 But I love the way the water flows under, around, and within me.
Pam — yes, Yes, YES! 🙂
So fun, I have been there too, and have seen them all. We even saw a snake right next to the bridge 🙂 Thank you for the memories 🙂
Inese – I’m so glad we missed the snake part! 🙂
Beautiful and intriguing.
WheatandTares — I’m glad you enjoyed it, thank you for letting me know.