Tragedy on 35W

I am sure that there are many other catchier titles that could better encapsulate what happened last Wednesday on the 35W bridge, but at least you know exactly what you’re getting. I did not want to take time to write anything sooner, for I had to contact many family and friends to find out how everyone was doing and whether they were hearing back from their families and friends. I am happy to report that almost everyone reported back with good news of their safety and their family and friends’ safety…however, there are still many that are deeply affected by this fresh wound, and I do not want to say that we are by any means out of the woods or able to breathe any easier. One friend has written that he knows someone through his sister that was badly injured in the collapse, and although alive, he has a long road to recovery ahead, so please say a prayer for Garret and his family, if you would be so inclined. But even though I do not know anyone personally involved, you start to grow close to those who were, as they are part of your “homeland” - similar to how most New Yorkers probably felt after the World Trade Centers went down. As the faces of the victims and their bios appear, you feel a deep loss in your own heart, and you pray for them almost without deciding to, as if God just can’t wait and has to get in touch with his humanity all around us faster than our brains can put it all together.

I was able to be *home this past weekend (as I will always be a native from the land of 10,000 lakes, spending my first 24 years there.) Richmond has been home ever since, but I can say that when tragedy strikes, your home is where your heart is – and my heart is where my family is, and they live in Minneapolis. My family consists also of non-blood relationships, and I immediately thought of the many childhood and adult friendships I still maintain in the Minneapolis area – and I was fortunate enough to extend contact to most of them via the internet within a day of learning of the collapse. This is still very vivid and fresh, and upon hearing in person stories and reading the survivors’ accounts, I can still say that I am in shock. I was back for a brief whirlwind of a weekend, and the only images of the actual site was crossing over the 3rd street bridge after the Twins game on Friday night, but still having to imagine what the reality looks like, as I could only see the 10th street bridge “behind” where there used to be heavy post-Twins game traffic – and recount the countless times we ourselves would be part of that same traffic.

Yes, I can easily say that I and most Minnesotans have driven over that bridge thousands of times – and we all knew instantly upon hearing the news, what section they were talking about. It’s definitely a jolt to the system when someone like this happens and you have some kind of personal connection or history with the affected place – as I felt a similar jolt this past April in the Virginia Tech shootings – but regardless of where you’re from or how much connection you have when something like this happens, everyone should feel something. And I pray that we all do something with that feeling, for when we don’t, that is truly when there is something wrong with us. So make a donation or give someone a call to see how they’re doing or take some time away to talk about life with a friend or parent or co-worker – just keep being humanly, for no one knows the day or hour when our time is up here when it’ll be our bios posted somewhere to remind others to live life to the fullest while they still can. Your life means so much to so many, including the one who gave it to you in the first place. Don’t leave the victims, the injured, the rescue workers and all their families behind, keep lifting them up with your hearts - keep those prayers going and don’t think for a second that they aren’t helping, because even though you may never see results, someone out there does.