Wednesday, August 1, 2007

bridge collapse

Hi everyone - just wanted to let you all know that we are safe and sound. As you may know, the 35W bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed tonight about 6:05 pm CDT. Our son crosses that bridge everyday to get to/from work. Tonight he was thinking he should work late, but ended up going home early - and crossed about 2 hrs before the collapse - thank God! My sister also crosses that bridge daily, but she worked from home today. As far as I know none of my nieces or nephews or friends were on the bridge. It is really hard to believe this is happening here - which is how most people feel about disasters, I'm sure.

My heart goes out to all the people with loved ones who were on the bridge - please send good thoughts and prayers their way.

32 comments:

Carol Michel said...

Happy to hear you all are okay. Good thoughts and prayers are coming from Indianapolis.

kris said...

Thanks Carol - I really appreciate that.

Trailhead said...

Delighted to hear you're all right. I'm still trying to get in touch with a high school friend who lives there as well.

Karen said...

It's good to know your family is safe, Kris. The pictures are just unbelievable. It's hard to comprehend how something like that could happen. And now the aftermath of dealing with all the traffic and comings and goings.

kris said...

Thanks Trailhead & Karen - I'm so happy that people I love are okay - but so sad knowing others weren't so lucky. Phone lines are a mess here - especially cell. And travel is going to be a real headache for awhile for a lot of people. Thanks guys - I appreciate your comments.

Kitt said...

Glad you and yours are OK! How completely random was that? You're not even in earthquake country.

Melissa said...

It is shocking and when it hits so close - it makes the realities that occur in other places more real.

Susie said...

Kris,
I've seen you comment on Zoey's and wanted to just come over and tell you how sorry I was to hear about the disaster your area is experiencing.
My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected.
We live in the SF Bay Area and bridges connect us all. I can truly relate what a tragedy this is.

kris said...

Kitt - that's exactly what it made me think of - the Oakland earthquake.

Me - I hope your loved ones weren't anywhere near that bridge either. It doesn't seem real - but it does make you realize this doesn't just happen "somewhere else."

Susie - thank you so much for dropping in. I've seen you at Zoey's too. I often think of the Oakland quake when I go through over/under passes where several highways are stacked. Now I'll have random thoughts about this when I cross bridges. It is really surreal to me right now.

Anonymous said...

Kris: Good to see that you and yours are safe. Everyone I know is okay, too. My husband works at the U and uses that bridge twice a day, but he is on break and doesn't go back until Monday. Thank God.

kris said...

Tracy - I've been thinking about you. I'm so glad you and yours are safe. I can't seem to get my head around this yet. Thanks for leaving a comment.

Melissa said...

Kris,

This morning, I read blogs and left comments mostly to keep my mind preoccupied.

It wasn't as close to our daily lives as it was to your's but it still was close...

I wrote a little about its impact on me and its proximity to our daily lives in my 'regular' blog.

I don't feel like repeating myself and think I need to try to manage my house so if you want to read my little note to the greater world you can see it here: http://thosenorthernskies.blogspot.com/

My reactions to the bridge collapse are in the most current post and the third one down.

I am was so startled by the closeness this had to your personal life that I really didn't respond appropriately this morning.

I am thankful that things worked as they did for your family. A Hand was at work in their lives, protecting them.

Hugs,

M

Robin said...

I'm grateful that you and your family were not directly affected by this tragedy. It is always so hard to grasp such things. I grew up in North Dakota - I am familiar with your area. I pray that you will see a great outpouring of love and support during this hard time.

kris said...

Hi Melissa - I just read your post on this tragedy - I agree completely with everything you said. I think your comment this morning was just fine - everyone I've talked to seems to be in shock. I'm just very thankful that the people I know and care about - including blogger friends - are okay. A big hug right back at you.

Thanks Robin - for stopping by and for the comments. I think we're already seeing a lot of support, and we'll be fine - individually and as a community. But, it is really difficult for most people to even believe that this could happen here - I'm seeing a lot of people who, like me, are just feeling at loose ends about everything. I appreciate your stopping by.

Jane O' said...

Kris, I immediately thought of you and one of my clients who also travels that bridge daily. I am so happy to hear you and your family are safe. My thoughts an prayers are with the people of Minnesota. It is a horrible tragedy.

Laurie and Chris said...

We are so glad you and your family are ok. What a shock it must be.

kris said...

Thanks Marie and Laurie & Chris - your comments are very appreciated. I feel like I'm in a fog - it really is a shock to have something like this happen in your own community. I am so glad I have good friends who let me know they care. Thank you.

Peter Hoh said...

Kris, we're all safe and accounted in my family, and counting our good fortune. My wife drove over the bridge on her way to an evening class in Minneapolis, probably crossing it about 5:55.

Tammy said...

Hi...I found you through comments on Laurie and Chris's site.
I just want you to know my thoughts and prayers are with the people in your area...so glad to hear that you and yours are safe!!

kris said...

Peter - I'm so happy to hear you and your loved ones are okay. Your wife crossing 10 minutes before it collapsed gives me pause though. We need to count our blessings daily, don't we?

T*mmy - thank you so much for stopping and leaving a comment. All of the comments I've received from fellow bloggers have really helped me get through the last couple days. The support I felt when reading your post and the comments left there brought tears to my eyes. Thanks.

kate smudges said...

This is just an awful tragedy. I was so sorry to hear about it ... I'm thankful that you and your loved ones are okay. My heart goes out to those who weren't so lucky.

kris said...

Thanks Kate - for stopping in and for the kind words. I think the most common things I'm hearing from friends is that we all feel so lucky our family and friends were not there, but so sad for those less fortunate. It's a major bridge in the Twin Cities - it could have been any of us. Hopefully the upside of this tragedy will be safer bridges for everyone - throughout the world.

Anonymous said...

I am so glad you are fine and your husband too.
My heart goes out to the families that lost loved ones this day.

Beth said...

Glad to hear you are OK. Was meaning to write and hear if your family was safe. what a tragic event ...

Iowa Gardening Woman said...

I left a comment on this post last night but I must not have hit send or something.

I am so glad you are safe, what an awful thing, I have traveled that bridge many times.

Cindy Garber Iverson said...

Kris, you've been in my thoughts since the disaster. I commented to my husband yesterday evening that I hoped you were okay. I'm glad to hear that you and yours are physically all well. But I know that the emotional trauma must be very hard at this time. Know that you are in our prayers! Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage

meresy_g said...

I had no idea you lived so close. How scary that you had so many family members using that bridge. As a consultant working for the PA Dept. of Transportation, I know of several bridges in our state that are on the verge of failing yet are kept open for both political reasons and simple lack of funds. It just should not be this way. I feel bad now for ever kidding someone that was afraid to go across big bridges.

Diana LaMarre said...

Kris,
Just stopped by to say "Hi". I can imagine it's a pretty tramatic time for eveyone in your city.

I was happy to hear today that the missing person count had been lowered to 8. My heart goes out to those 8 families just waiting and waiting.

violetlady said...

Thank God you and your family and friends are okay. Such a close call for so many.

Unknown said...

Kris,

I am so glad you and your family are safe. What a terrible tragedy this was.

Tristi Pinkston said...

Oh wow -- I hadn't made the connection between your location and the bridge until opening your blog. How grateful I am that you and yours are safe. What a truly frightening experience.

kris said...

Becky, Beth, Iowa Gardening Woman, Cindy, Meresy_g, Zoey, Violetlady, Candace & Tristi:
Sorry to do a group comment, but I'm worn out from all of this. Thank you so much for the good thoughts for me and my family - and for the people who weren't nearly so lucky. Emotionally this has been very draining - and I truly appreciate hearing from each of you. Thank you so much.