Thursday, August 02, 2007

Tragedy too close to home.


Last night after having a very enjoyable dinner out at a local neighborhood Italian restaurant with the boy, we were heading back to my place to get some things done in preparation for the weekend when we decided to stop into a neighborhood church rummage sale. It was about 6:00 pm. As we were leaving we heard of the bridge collapse. I live about 5 miles from the bridge and it is a main thoroughfare if I want to get up to see my parents or stop by to see my dad at work, my dad's office building is about two miles from the bridge. We called my sister to let her know what was going on and that we were okay and had to pull over for emergency vehicles to pass. It was an eerie feeling and I had goosebumps and shivers most of the night as we watched the tragedy unfold on tv.

Thank goodness all of my family and friends are safe and accounted for today, but this is likely to be a story that we will be hearing a lot about over the next couple of months here. The stories about near misses and could have beens are already coming out. As it was, the boy and I were thinking about heading to the Twins game with his parents last night, we have yet to catch a game yet this year, but we had too much to do at my house. The bridge runs right along next to the dome and his parents or the two of us could have been on the bridge at that time heading to the game. My friend J from CT lives in a building right on the Mississippi with a view of the bridge, he watched the whole thing unfold, he must take the bridge coming or going at least four times a day, I am glad that both he and his fiance are safe today and headed for Montana for a wedding.

There is a temporary information and relief center set up at a local Holiday Inn, Katie Couric is there and will be reporting from there later today. On the radio this morning, one of the local DJ's was there, reporting as he was from the scene last night, but he said the scene in the hotel this morning was worse than the scene last night, almost too much to take. I think for me too, it all brings back so many memories of 9/11 and being in the city, on a different scale of course, but tragedy is tragedy. This also brings to mind another bridge collapse that happened before I moved there, but I traveled the bridge daily, that story is here.

Thank you for all of the well wishes and thoughts and prayers, they are all greatly appreciated and while I can feel relief that my friends and family are safe, my heart goes out to those still going through this nightmare.

4 comments:

Tres Poshe Preppy said...

My prayers are with you all! So, so sad.

Jill said...

This just terrible..keeping you all in my prayers.

tulipmom said...

I'm so glad to hear you and your family are okay.

Libby said...

Jilly,

You, boy, your families and the people of Minn. are in my thoughts and prayers.

xo L

 
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