Yeah, I wonder about that bridge.  They were doing work on it.  I wouldn't be surprised if something was overlooked and that the collapse could've been avoided.

I'm more than a little shocked my aunt died.  She seemed so full of life and energy the last time I saw her.  We hugged and all that and I am grateful that I got to see her, I just wished it hadn't of happened during a funeral.  It would've been nice to sit and chat not during a family death.  I'll find out more details tomorrow about Vivian.  She was one of my "cool" aunts, the kind I could talk to about spiritual things.  She was kinda like a gypsy or hippy with a vivid imagination and loved to talk.  We had a lot in common.  It's interesting that I was thinking deeply about my family this week for some reason... kinda makes sense now.

I worry that my mother is next.  The death of Vivian has really hit her hard.  Vivian was the "baby girl" of the family.  My brother went to visit my mother late this evening, around 11pm just after she woke up from her coma -- she needed some morale, as you can imagine.  My bro got back around midnight and that's when I flipped on the TV and got both news.

The bridge collapse is right near Dinkie town (the university area) where my ex-lover, old best friend, Andrew, lives.  I set aside any lingering differences with him to email and call him to see if he's okay.  Haven't heard anything back yet, but it's late, so who knows.  underground1986 was just on the bridge about 45 minutes before the collapse!  So weird.  So surreal.  I really feel for anyone who lived nearby and wasn't hurt but heard the big earthquake-like sound of the bridge collapse.  *shivers*   

My aunt Vivian was also a tarot reader and psychic.  My aunt Asenith (also known by her nickname, Cindy) is a profiler and works now as a private investigator.  Go figure!  I always watch the psychic detective kind of shows on Court TV to see if one of my aunts is featured...  Then there's my grandmother on my father's side who was known as a medicine woman, but her specialty was doing tea leaf readings.  She was real old school.  She died in 1976, but refused to watch TV and in her end days she spoke mostly Menominee.  I really wish I would've known her when she was alive!  What stories she must've had... 

about the news footage, after 9/11 i decided that i would limit my observation time during a crisis that comes to the nations' attention.   i heard a psychologist give a warning to the public, back then, to be mindful of how much of this news coverage we allow ourselves to be exposed to.   it wasn't about "running away from" or avoiding facing facts,  or not caring...he said it was about protecting ourselves from being traumatized by over exposure to the details.   in my own experience, this made sense to me.  

i don't mean to over-simplify your experience.   when you know people in the area, you can't help but cling to that link, the news station, hoping for some news, for some hope.   just protect your heart, i think, is the message.

i hope you get some rest honey.  hugs, wakemeup

Don't worry, I unplugged.  And this morning, after hearing from just about everyone I know in the Minneapolis area *sigh of relief* I'm watching fun things and am easing back into my regular schedule.  I did get good news, so I'm thankful for that, let me tell you.

I do hate it when news channels over expose, to the point of exploitation, tragedies.  It's not just stressful to see the footage, but you start to feel helpless because you are miles away from what happened and can't do anything but watch.  In any case, I'm fine and thankful today that everyone I know is well, but I do pray for the people who died and the people who were hurt!

*huggles!*  Yeah, I'm worried about my mom.  I want to visit her today but can't due to the beginnings of that bad cold my brother and his sons gave me.  Silly lil' germ factories.  But, yeah, I just want my mother's suffering to be over and yet I don't want to deal with her death because it means dealing with funeral arrangements et. al.  I don't think I'm ready for that yet.

I did get some bad dreams last night.  I woke back up around 5am when I dreamt I was in a blue van on the Washington bridge.  It plunged into the Mississippi and everyone around me died, but their spirits stayed in their bodies and talked to me.  One lady, her head broken, her hair in waves flowing around her face like a halo in the water, slowly turned to me, apologised over how she looked, and said, "Tammy's dead."  Next thing I know I'm back in Point on a public bus and I'm off to the Mission Coffee House.  I realize after I enter the coffee house that I forgot a very expensive meal on the bus.  I'm hungry and don't get back to the bus in time to retrieve my meal.  I wake up with a bad stomach ache and I'm coughing.  Most likely the dream is a combination of stress from the tragedy and from my cold.  The only person I know who is a Tammy is my ex-landlady's girlfriend.  Weird.

In any case, trying to work up the energy to go apartment finding today.  Damn chest cold.  *cough*  I've also gotta go get some cough medicine or just get a check-up.  I did everything in my power to hold off this cold.

I did get even better news today: my disability was approved and I will get back pay as well!  YAY.  It's about time.  Now I can afford my medication and housing.  Who-hoo!  Soon I will no longer have to live with the brother figure.  Talk about double *phew!*

I'm sorry to hear about you aunt vivian, doesn't sound like your mother is doing too good. (you don't sound very close to her? Which can make things even more difficult sometimes.)

I'll be praying for comfort and peace for you and your family.   And for those directly affected by the collapsed bridge.

thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers.  No, I'm not that close to my mother, but trying to keep the peace.  As you said, it can be hard!

Thank you again.  I'm keeping those prayers going for the victims of the bridge collapse, too.