Wednesday, August 1, 2007


It was a beautiful evening in Minneapolis tonight. Mom and I went out for dinner and then we stopped by our favorite lake and watched a father fishing with his two children. Around 6:30 we got into the car to head home. We were listening to MPR, the classical music radio station. The DJ announced that the 35W bridge across the Mississippi river had collapsed in that calm, quiet voice that classical music radio announcers have. It was surreal. I've traveled across that bridge hundreds, no probably thousands of times and I could not grasp this news. Mom didn't grasp it. When we got home I turned on the TV and there it was, completely collapsed, with cars strewn around like toys on a race track that some child had broken apart. It still hasn't sunk in. Suddenly Mom grasped what had happened and we sat riveted to the screen. My sister called and Mom answered the phone explaining that we were watching a bridge that had collapsed. The interstate 35W bridge is part of a major transportation artery not only in the Twin Cities but in the state of Minnesota. As of now, seven people have lost their lives. This is too terrible to even imagine let alone experience. My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and loved ones of those who either perished or were injured in this catastrophic event.

3 comments:

nancy said...

oh how terrible. i hadn't heard that. i too have crossed that bridge traveling from wisconsin to minnesota. my thoughts and prayers are with all those families.

Unknown said...

I was glued to the cable tv news last night. It reminded me of a bridge disaster we experienced in Oklahoma a few years ago when a barge hit a support in the river. Just an unimaginably terrifying event for those involved.

~Betsy said...

I had forgotten you live in Minneapoplis. Gosh, such a horrific tragedy. I can't even imagine. I was also glued to the news coverage and was absolutely touched by the good samaritans throughout the area who instead of running for their lives, turned around and helped their fellow citizens. I'm inspired by their strength.

I'm in a suburb of Pittsburgh. We are dubbed "the city of bridges". I'll be thinking twice next time I cross one.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all involved.

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