Take a moment and hug the people you love…

…because life is unpredictable. Many heartfelt thanks to all of you who have checked in on us here in the Twin Cities in the aftermath of the I-35W Mississippi bridge collapse. There are still people missing and we’re all kind of shellshocked. That bridge is just a few miles from where I live and I’ve been over it hundreds, if not thousands of times (although it isn’t part of my regular route). We aren’t famous for bridges in the Twin Cities, but since both the Mississippi and the Minnesota rivers cut through the metro area, we have a lot of bridges. I’ll be thinking about them a bit differently for a while.

“I’m glad I’ve never been over a bridge. How scary! I’m sending out nips and licks to those poor people.” -Mayhem

67 thoughts on “Take a moment and hug the people you love…”

  1. Wow, its just so scary. So random. I’m glad you are ok, though. And good thinking Mayhem! Who needs bridge anyway!

  2. Very true words. My dad, living in Northern Minnesota, was on the V/A hospital bus going over that bridge last week around the same time. He was shocked to turn on CNN when I called and say ‘I know exactly where that is!’

  3. I know a guy who once, when very tired, drove across a very large bridge. Sometime after he got to the other side, he realized that he could not remember driving across the bridge at all. He is convinced that he sleep-drove it and now, when he needs to cross a bridge (any bridge) in a car, his wife drives.

  4. Blogging brings us closer to many tragedies as we know people near and far. You and everyone in MN have been in my thoughts. Hugs to you and the kitties.

  5. Whew! I missed it last night, I fell asleep on the couch at an embarrassingly early hour. When I saw it this morning, I ran over here to make sure you and yours weren’t among the unfortunate. So glad you’re okay, thanks for letting us know. From what I’ve seen on the news, your city looks fairly well prepared to deal with its emergencies, more so than I think most would be. I hope they continue to find more miracles today. I know there’s precious little to be thankful for in a situation like this, but I’m glad it was summer and not winter, at least.

  6. The Tennessee River goes right through our area. I have to go over a bridge every day to get to the office. I bet a lot more people will be taking the new bridge today instead of the old bridge that most people still use. Keeping the Twin Cities in my thoughts today.

  7. Oh Mayhem – life is scary. But if just surround yourself with people you love, they’ll take some of the scariness away and you’ll feel much safer.

  8. First thing I saw when I tried to log in to yahoo was the bridge collapse story, and first thing I thought of was you. Glad you are ok. *phew*
    Crikey! That is not what you expect a bridge to do.

  9. I was stunned when my husband told me last night, but he just said a bridge “over the Mississippi.” It wasn’t until this morning that I realized it was Minnesota.

    I’m sooooo glad you and yours are OK, but my heart goes out to the families of those who aren’t.

  10. I sat at a light UNDER a bridge on my way to work this a.m. and thought of those on the road below the 35W bridge…it’s frightening and my heart is heavy with the loss in MN – I’ve ALWAYS been afraid of heights & water, so you know what my nerves are like crossing bridges…
    (((hugs)))

  11. I saw that you and the kitties were safe last night, thank goodness. I hope some sociology major is writing a paper about blogging in a time of disaster, otherwise they’re missing out on a great opportunity.

    Hoping for more survivors.

  12. I’m very glad you’re OK, too. You’re the first person I thought of when I picked up the morning paper. Willie & Lucy say that they’re glad that Chaos and May don’t have to go over bridges. I hold my breath going over the bridges here, since we’re smack in the middle of an earthquake fault line.

  13. I’m so glad you and yours are ok. I didn’t see the news last night but came right over after seeing the update in my online newspaper just now.

    Hugs to you.

  14. So glad to hear you are okay. I’ve been away from the internet since last night and only now catching up on this unfolding story. How incredibly tragic.

  15. Thanks Chris for letting us all know you are ok! Just heard about this, how awful. This is one of my fairly irrational fears (not paralyzing, but I do think about it… now I carry one of those cut your seat belt and smash out your window tools). I’m better now that the kiddo is 11 and not in a rear facing carseat. Thoughts with all of you out there.

  16. I was relieved to hear you’re ok, too. I live in uptown Mpls, and have been lurking on your blog for awhile. Funny how connections are formed. When I heard about the bridge yesterday, I started making a list of who all to check up on. You were on my list. *hugs from a neighbor and fellow knitter*

  17. I’m so glad that you are ok. This was such a tragedy. My prayers go out to all the families involved.

    Sooo glad you are here and your family, and that you aren’t hurt (((hugs)))

  18. Thank God you’re OK too…I heard last night, when I logged on for my weekly conference and it was front page on every major home page. I’ve been on that bridge thousands of times too – and I called my sister First Thing (she lives over on River Road) to a busy signal. After two (panicky?) e-mails this morning she called me and she and hers are all well and accounted-for too. But Minnea-populace is still my home town, and I’m sure I know someone who either WAS on the bridge or had family who was. I’m glued to the tube and waiting. My poor, beautiful city, friends, neighbors and family (but man, am I PROUD of the way my city’s handling the whole thing!) My kitties send snorgles to your kitties; we Minnesotans, home or abroad, need hugs.

  19. I just saw the headline this morning and immediately thought of you. I’m so glad to see that you are OK, and I hope your loved ones are as well. My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this horrific tragedy. We had a bridge collapse in my state a while back, and I know how shellshocked you all must be.

  20. Chris—was just checking the news from work, so glad to know you and yours are safe. Hugs to your hometown!

  21. I’m glad to hear that you are ok. I have to contact my cousin who lives in Minneapolis to see about his family. Such a terrible tragedy.

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