When we think about bridges, there’s a duality of meaning there. They’re a crossing from one reality to another, in ways both literal and allegorical.
This is the subtext of my novel, in which an aging and lost Elvis seeks to find meaning in the life he has left to lead. At first, a random encounter with a troubled young TV reporter doesn’t seem to be leading to anything good. But as it turns out, it may be the spark they’ve both been looking for all their lives. A desperate second chance. Maybe a last chance.
This heart-stopping rendition by Paul Simon, when he appeared on SNL back in 2018, captures the ethos perfectly.
It remains to be seen whether that last bridge to Memphis will be the undoing of Elvis and Tom, the young reporter. Or will it turn out to be a passage into a new, more fulfilling life for both?