Mama Said Lock Me Up

There's a bridge in Odessa that has quite a legend attached to it. According to lore, the Teschin Mist Bridge was built by a high-ranking official who wanted to be closer to his mother-in-law and her wonderful cooking. Let me repeat, he had a large river keeping his mother-in-law at bay, but he mustered up the city's resources so he could have a mother-daughter tandem telling him everything he does wrong.

Sorry, but I'm calling BS on this legend. I'll believe in Big Foot before I believe that yarn.

Nevertheless, the so-called mother-in-law bridge has taken on an equally ironic legend. Last week, Tonic wrote about love padlock bridges, and this happens to be Odessa's version of the romance phenomenon. As the story goes, local newlyweds need to attach a padlock to this bridge and throw away the key in order to ensure that their love will last forever.

Sure, sounds sweet, but could you have picked a spot other than mother-in-law bridge? I struggle enough making a love statement with a device used to secure prisoners, but adding in the mother-in-law angle might be just a little too much untended symbolism for this bachelor to handle. Like a young Ukrainian needs to be reminded he's locking himself to broom-swingin' Mama Olga as well.

Obviously I'm just playing to mother-in-law stereotypes and the jokes aren't serious, but I'm not joking when I say I'll pick any other bridge than this one to secure my lock when that fateful day comes.

Images by Damian Corrigan courtesy of Wikipedia and azkid2it courtesy of Flickr.