We Are All Okay

My inbox and phone have been buzzing since last night’s Minneapolis bridge collapse disaster checking to see if we are all right. Yes, I was slaving away on my latest MAD job when the accident happened, and none of my family or friends were on it at the time (so far as I know right now). I have been over that bridge many times and can hardly believe it just fell into the river. So far seven dead and that would be getting off easy by the looks of it.

It’s odd how your life can just be chugging along as usual and suddenly something happens and every radio station, TV channel and conversation is centered on it. I was fairly well distracted as a result last night and didn’t get as much done as I would have liked. Harder work ahead tomorrow, I guess.

Thanks to all those who were concerned and checked up on us. One of my neighbors had been over the bridge only 25 minutes before it collapsed, so in at least one case it was a close call for someone close to us. Other family and friends had been on it at some point today… it is a major bridge connecting downtown Minneapolis and points south with the north areas of the Twin Cities. Our thoughts and prayers are out to all the families who were not as lucky.

It’s times like these when you have to stop and think how fragile life is. You take for granted that the bridge you are crossing will not collapse, that the building you are on the 17th floor of will not catch fire, that your car’s brakes will work when you press on the pedal… that the space around you will be full of air when you inhale. I know it would be impossible to function of you lived in fear that some impending disaster is right around the corner… but it does give you pause to think that it doesn’t take much to mess us up. We are very fragile creatures amid the hurtling machines, massive structures and powerful chemicals and substances science has created around us.