Unbelievable

I've been transfixed by the coverage of the Minneapolis bridge collapse for the past two days. Partly, I think, because I'm so familiar with the Twin Cities. I travel there probably about five times a year to visit family and/or go to the airport, and I'm at least vaguely familiar with most of the major highways – including 35W.

I was at work Wednesday when the 35W bridge collapsed, working on the front page. I was on my supper break when one of my co-workers came running up to me and exclaimed, "You're going to have to redo the front page." My response was, "Oh, great, did Barry Bonds hit a home run?" He shook his head and just pointed to the TV at the front of the newsroom that was tuned to CNN.

My first response was a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach because I knew that I-35W is one of the roads my sister takes to work – and that she would've been on her way home around the time of the collapse. In a state of near-panic, I made a dash for my cell phone and dialed Megan's number, praying that she would pick it up. Fortunately, she picked it up on the first ring – she already knew why I was calling. I had never been so happy to hear her voice, and I found myself getting choked up with emotion. And I felt a tinge of sadness for the people making the same frantic cell phone calls, but finding no answer.

I quickly got back to work, producing a decent (I think) page 1A. And I've been glued to CNN ever since.