I need to get this off my chest - Minneapolis is my home, even if I no longer live there.

[KitchenWitch]

There are many people I still have not heard from and I am really worried.

Please, let's let us leave the conspiracy theories out of the mix right now. They do not help the emotional states of people who care deeply for people that may or may not be involved in the collapse.

:cry:

[Fierce]

1. I'm with you.

I lived in the shadow of that bridge after I graduated from college. I crossed it twice a day. It was a symbol of my new independence. I mourn the dead and injured, and I also mourn the structure itself.

[KitchenWitch]

13. I used to drive on that bridge every day when I went to the U.

:cry:

[Critters2]

2. Uh-oh. Critters just got home from a meeting

and, apparently needs to check LBN.

KW, I'll pray for those you haven't heard from.

[KitchenWitch]

5. Thank you critters-that means a great deal to me.

:hug:

[annabanana]

3. I hope you make fast contact with those you're worried about.

It is horrible not knowing what's going on.

[KitchenWitch]

7. I am getting the "all circuits are busy" message.

I feel so helpless.

[Critters2]

15. Gettting the same.

Think I'll call my dad to see if he's heard anything.

[dflprincess]

18. I was getting that on local calls too

very frustrating. I did finally get through to one friend who had managed to talk to another friend of ours who commutes over that bridge twice a day. Fortunately, she had worked late tonight and wasn't near the bridge when this happened.

[Critters2]

4. Yikes!! My brother lives there!

I gotta make a phone call!!

[KitchenWitch]

6. I will pray for your brother.

:hug:

[Critters2]

16. Thanks, KW!! nt

[wildhorses]

8. ~here's hoping you here from everyone real soon~

:grouphug:

[KitchenWitch]

10. Thank you!

:grouphug:

[Deja Q]

9. There is no conspiracy.

It's already been said:

* unrelenting heat, humidity
* construction on the bridge
* rush hour/weight on bridge; "pile driving" was mentioned elsewhere

Worst case scenario is that the company that put in the lowest bid cut corners. In which case they'll be fired (probably) and the people playing with the budgets. in theory, will pick a better company next time.

[KitchenWitch]

11. I am sure that is true.

How hot was it today?

[ISUGRADIA]

25. It was 91 about 5:00 so upper 80s, low 90s

[dflprincess]

12. No conspiracy

except the harm caused by the Minnesota Taxpayers League and their pressure to cut taxes regardless of who gets hurt. - Remember the 30,000 cut from MinnesotaCare? I wonder how many of them have died because they had no medical care.

The bridge collapse is a horrible thing, but it's something, unlike the MNCare cuts, that strikes fear in everybody because we all drive over bridges. Hopefully, people will wake up and realize that Minnesota is crumbling in many way and we better be willing to cough off some more cash to restore the "quality of life" we were once so proud of.

[KitchenWitch]

14. Agreed.

I am glad you are safe.

[Maddy McCall]

17. I felt the same way after Katrina. May I give you some advice?

Get away from DU tonight. Or at least away from GD.

Some people will find it irresistible to make jokes about this, to completely politicize this in a nasty way. While I agree with the comments that federal dollars going to Iraq instead of to American infrastructure, I'm astonished at some of the nastier things I've read. I stayed away from DU for 3 weeks after we went through Katrina (of course, we didn't have power for most of that three weeks) because I knew the kind of stuff that DUers would be saying. Eventually, maybe a year later, I worked up the fortitude to read the GD archives...I am glad I stayed away. What I read was worse than I had ever imagined it would be.

Right now, my heart goes out to you, and all of the other Twin City residents who are dealing with this terrible tragedy. I hope that everyone you know and love is safe and accounted for.

There'll be plenty of time for political snipes tomorrow. We can at least wait until after the injured have been rescued and the dead counted.

Love ya, Kitchy. :hug:

[KitchenWitch]

21. Thanks Maddy!

:hug:

You are a good friend.

[Rick Myers]

19. I was born in Ohio, but Minneapolis is MY home too!!!

I've had calls and text messages, all my people are safe. All good karma to you, that everyone is a-okay!!!

[KitchenWitch]

30. I am glad all your people are safe and accounted for.

I am guessing that I will not know until tomorrow about all my people. I cannot get through on the phone.

[classof56]

20. I am greatly relieved to hear that my family member who lives in St. Paul is okay

I pray that those you know in the area are okay, as well.

I am constantly reminded of John Donne's poem "No Man is an Island," in which he says,"We are all a piece of the continent, a part of the main. Never send to know for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee." Conspiracy aside, we are all connected, all a part of humanity and should all care about the grief and sorrow suffered by others who are all a part of the main.

Peace and blessings.

Tired Old Cynic

[KitchenWitch]

39. Six degrees of separation.

:grouphug:

[snacker]

22. I finally got through to my daughter in Minneapolis.

She said the phone lines are all tied up, so just keep trying, KitchenWitch. It took me a long time to get through. In the meantime, prayers to everyone in Minneapolis tonight.

[KitchenWitch]

31. I am glad your daughter is safe.

:hug:

[mmonk]

23. Best wishes. Hope news is ok for you.

[KitchenWitch]

38. ...

Thanks.

[SeattleGirl]

24. I hope you hear from them soon, Kitchey.

And I hope they are all okay. :hug:

[KitchenWitch]

33. Thanks GF!

:hug:

I am sending your mom some vibes too.

[Hardrada]

26. I wrote a history of Minneapolis

and know it quite well. I also lived in Twin Cities for six years all told and have most of my family there. So I too am concerned. Miss the City a lot!

[KitchenWitch]

36. Me too!

Beautiful city.

:cry:

[BattyDem]

27. I hope all of your loved ones are alright.

I know the waiting is hell, but hang in there. :hug:

[DianaForRussFeingold]

28. Bridges collapse, no conspiracy, just sadness and good wishes

:cry: I'm so sorry for you! :hug: OMG, I hope you hear from them and they are all right! I'm Looking for posts from people in the area. I think the internet is very helpful at a time like this. Please let us know. I posted to wish you well and so I can come back and check. I care so much but all I can offer is my hope and prayers! :cry: :pals: :grouphug:

[KitchenWitch]

29. I think that is all any of us can do!

Thanks so much for your prayers and support. It is truly appreciated.

[Olney Blue]

32. Positive thoughts from here in Maryland.....

:hug:

Please let us know how you and yours are doing.....

[KitchenWitch]

34. I will as soon as I know something.

[shaniqua6392]

35. Thoughts and prayers go out to you....

Keep trying to get through. Communications are not good right now, especially with cellphones. Keep us all posted and we will keep praying.

[KitchenWitch]

37. I am

I probably won't get much sleep tonight.

:cry:

[KitchenWitch]

40. I have heard from all but three people that I have tried to get in touch with

Fingers crossed.

[Withywindle]

41. I'm sending good vibes for you and yours, KW

I hope you get good news soon.

[cally]

42. My thoughts and prayers are with you and all

the people who are worried about loved ones. I hope you heard KO say that cell phones are out. I also know that when Earthquakes have hit us, I haven't been able to get in contact with loved ones because phone lines are overwhelmed. I had to wait until the next day. :hug:

[bridgit]

43. my brother travels that bridge every day, Betsey heard from her niece...

that she & her friends had just passed over within an hour or so on their way to the mall, hubby has thoughts as to the failure of structural components, but none of them include terrorism...you are right, sometimes we here need to seriously have a reality check

it is important to see things as they are

[KitchenWitch]

44. The structure of that bridge has been in rough shape for years.

It was a disaster just waiting to happen.

[bridgit]

46. terrible, just terrible...

:hug:

[Critters2]

47. My brother was on it earlier today, too

He's fine, but really....:scared:

[bridgit]

48. a disaster...

:(

[Lochloosa]

45. Hope everyone is safe...

[eridani]

49. Just the Repub conspiracy to undermine the effective functioning of government

--which of course ought to include maintaining public infrastructure. NOLA paid a hefty price for that a couple of years ago, and now Minnesota is paying one now. Unless we decide we can no longer afford a foreign policy based on world domination, it won't be the last.

[JVS]

56. It's Paul Wellstone's ghost! He's back and he's pissed!

[northernsoul]

61. that's the stupidest thing I've heard all night

please re-think that comment.

[JVS]

62. ya don't say?

Of course it's stupid. It's meant to be stupid

[northernsoul]

69. now is really not a good time for stupid

n/t

[NuttyFluffers]

50. "it was the structural rebar gnomes! war on Lilliput!" -the Decider

:tinfoilhat:

hope that made you laugh. :P

best wishes that everyone's OK :hug:

[KitchenWitch]

51. That did, thanks!

And Barry Bonds should be coming up to bat any minute now.

:rofl:

[proud patriot]

52. Big Hug , I'll wait with you

:hug:

[JVS]

53. Much love and many prayers for Minnesota, my ancestral homeland as I call it

[nadinbrzezinski]

54. you need a hug

been there done that...

[KitchenWitch]

58. Thanks!

:hug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

66. You welcome

and chances are your friends will be alright, even if right now this is driving you nuts

(Veteran of the Mexico City Quake... I was in San Diego, could not find out what condition my parents were for oh a week, since the COMM Tower collapsed... they, and everybody we knew was fine)

[KitchenWitch]

67. I am sure you are right.

I will know more in the morning.

:hug:

[Missy Vixen]

55. I'm thinking about everyone that works with Camp Wellstone

I hope that they were nowhere near the bridge today :scared:.

KitchenWitch, I'm thinking about your three people and hoping that they're trying to reach you as well, to tell you they're safe.

Julie

[KitchenWitch]

57. Thank you - that means a lot.

But hold me back from ripping some insensitive asshats here a new shit canal. Because I really really want to.

[Missy Vixen]

63. KW, I've read that crap, too

It pisses me off. What's more, have these people never gone through any type of natural disaster where THEY live?

:hug:
Julie

[mzmolly]

59. It's still my home KitchenWitch.

And I agree. I'm tuned into to the tele as I type. So far 7 fatalities and over 50 treated at local hospitals.

[KitchenWitch]

64. ..

:hug:

[northernsoul]

60. Amen, sister.

Peace to you and yours. For what it's worth, the phone lines are completely hosed right now, so chances are you people are just fine, but can't get through right now.

[KitchenWitch]

65. I figured as much

:hug:

I hope all your people are safe and sound.

And I send all light and positive energy to the rescue and recovery crews who have quite a big job to do.

:hug:

[Major Hogwash]

68. My thoughts and prayers go out to anyone in Minneapolis or who has family there.

It is indeed a tragedy that is so hard to cope with.

[KitchenWitch]

70. UPDATE- Everyone I know is safe and accounted for.

Thanks everyone for keeping me off the ledge last night.

[Virginia Dare]

71. Great news!

how tragic and horrible for those who have lost loved ones...

[northernsoul]

74. Yay!

:woohoo:

[JVS]

75. Yay!

[Sequoia]

72. I was thinking of this city the other day.

I was thinking of all the cities and states I've been in and the Twin Cities (airport) was one of them. I flew in at night and waited a couple hours before I flew elsewhere. I was thinking how it would've been nice to have actually seen and walked around the place and 4 days later this happens. You all hang in there and our hearts and prayers are with you.

[Left Is Write]

73. Thank you, KW. Minneapolis will always be my home too, having lived there 31 years.

:hug:

[KitchenWitch]

76. Anytime my friend!

:hug: