Thursday, August 02, 2007

Bridge over IN troubled waters.

I live about twenty minutes drive (non-rush hour) from downtown Minneapolis. I'd taken my parents to the Mall of America and crossed that bridge twice this week. My parents were going to drive that bridge this morning as they returned home to Kansas. I would have taken that bridge to downtown Minneapolis this Monday to attend orientation for my new job.

We're all quite shaken here.

Last night, as my mom and husband were picking up dinner, I decided to monitor the local weather because a storm system was moving into the area. Instead of weather reports, I was stunned to see video taken from a helicopter showing the collapsed I-35W bridge over the Mississippi. I began freaking out, yelling for my stepdad (watching TV in another room) to "TURN IT TO CHANNEL4! No, TURN IT TO CHANNEL 5!" I stood clutching the remote, staring at the TV and saying, "Oh my God oh my God," over and over. Much like I'd done on September 11. Now this tragedy in no way compares to 9/11, except the shock and disbelief and numbness. I had goosebumps all over as I watched the news. When my mom and husband arrived home, I met them at the door. They were grinning and laughing and I asked, "Were you listening to the radio? the I-35W bridge collapsed over the Mississippi!" They'd been listening to Jack FM which isn't really a local station. Then we all stood before the TV in shock, our dinner growing cold.

Not long after that, a thunderstorm hit and our power went out. We sat bathed in the warm glow of candle light, calming down a bit despite the chaos of those hours.

We're OK here. My parents left for Kansas this morning, taking a different route.

Hopefully we'll learn what happened to that bridge. Repairs will take a long time and my husband may even be involved, since he's a phone line repairman and phone lines are strung through piping on those bridges.

We're very sad for those who've lost loved ones. It's a very sad, tragic event. It could have been even more horrendous if it had happened only thirty minutes earlier, during the bulk of the rush hour.

9 comments:

Unknown said...

I'm so glad that you and your family are okay. I immediately thought of you last night when I saw the news. My boyfriend's extended family lives in the area as well, and fortunately, they're all okay.

CaliGirl said...

I like Becky thought of you last night when i saw this on the news and wondered how far you were from this. im glad to hear you guys are ok. i have been watching the news almost non stop since we had the breaking news. big hugs coming your way.

Stephanie said...

I somehow didn't hear about it until this morning and thought of you right away. Thank goodness you and your family are okay. And we're thinking of all those people who are not.....

Beckie said...

Wow, it looked awful in the pictures. I'm glad you all are OK. It will be interesting when they can figure out a cause.

Anonymous said...

I, too, thought of you when I saw this. I'm glad you and yours are all okay. My son is missing a friend that lives in the area - we don't know what the situation is, he may just be out of contact. We're holding our breath waiting to hear.

Take care. It was a little too close to home for us, too... we've been across that bridge several times over the years.

Anonymous said...

Horrible, so horrible. Thank God you and your family are okay.

John Strain said...

I thought about you and your family when I saw the news. So glad all of you are OK.

Congrats on the new job.

Anonymous said...

Such an everyday thing you take forgranted, driving over a bridge? Millions do it everyday.

Happy to hear you are all safe and well if not a little shell-shocked.

Anonymous said...

I am happy to hear that you and your family are safe!!! Very frightening. I heard the news, but it didn't really sink in until I actually turned on CNN and watched (at my in-laws house).

Portland has tons of bridges - and one near my in-laws house was closed to all heavy trucks about 4 years ago. We won't drive on it. It is just begging for repair. I wonder what the city will do now.