We have a tradition in my family. As nerdy, techy, competent guys, the men in my family like like to be right. Often this is useful, because we do tend to know a lot about how electricity, plumbing, and basic mechanics work. But I’ve been known to be sure about things that might be a tiny bit outside my expertise.
We have a tradition in my family. As nerdy, techy, competent guys, the men in my family like like to be right. Often this is useful, because we do tend to know a lot about how electricity, plumbing, and basic mechanics work. But I’ve been known to be sure about things that might be a tiny bit outside my expertise.
Years ago I assured a friend that the cable company could not possibly adjust the picture on her TV set. It seemed impossible, and I knew I could fiddle with the wires and get it done. But finally she called them and… well, they fixed it. So humbling.
Recently I’ve been obsessed by the new Bay Bridge. It’s fun to watch it being constructed, but as the landing approached Oakland, I became pretty sure somebody had made a miscalculation. The bridge crashes right into the existing roadway. I mean look at it:
Look closely at the Y to see where I suspect a problem.
Caltrans had the Westbound lanes closed for three days last weekend to rig up a workaround, which only confirmed my certainty that there was some odd screwup and if they’d just aimed it a few feet north the whole problem could have been avoided.
Never mind that I’m not a traffic engineer, and doubtless the current plan is based on lots of smart thinking and planning that I’m not privvy to.
So it’s with great pleasure that I announce that my big theories about the reasons for that adoption placement falling through — incompetence, homophobia, evil plots — were mistaken. I was wrong, and I’m so glad I was.
It was still heartbreaking to be so close and have the disclosure meeting with an hour’s notice and absolutely no information. I’m sure it could have been handled better.
But this week we found out that it really was a good decision for the kids. Another family, close by and close to the family adopting their siblings, stepped up to do it. So the outcome is exactly what we’d want for the kids, and exactly the decison we’d make if it were up to us.
I wish we’d been told in a more timely manner, but I have to say, the system did right by those kids in a tough situation, and they matter the most. Yay.
I would, however, like to hear from someone at Caltrans about whether all the measurements have been properly and accurately made for the Oakland landing? I mean, with my tape measure I could have avoided this disaster!