Boston - Museum of Science and Faneuil Hall

The third grade social studies curriculum in Massachusetts is mostly focused around the history of our state.  Collin enjoyed this study last year, and one thing he wanted to do was head to Boston to walk the Freedom Trail.  We planned this for yesterday, and left the house with every intention of doing the Freedom Trail.  Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate.  While the Weather Channel app showed clear skies for the morning, the actual weather was quite different!  On the way there, we encountered heavy rains and thunder.  So, Tom came up with Plan B, and we all (Grandpa Jim and Grandma Susan, Collin, Reagan, Katelyn, Tom, and I) went to the Museum of Science.

We purchased tickets for the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit and the Exploring the Universe Planetarium show.  Grandpa, Tom, Collin, and Reagan also went on the space exploration motion simulator.

My only complaint about the Museum of Science is that additional tickets (at an additional price) are required for everything!

After some time there, we went to Faneuil Hall.  We walked around a bit trying to decide where to eat, and then we spotted Dick's Last Resort.  When we told the kids that it is a restaurant known for rude wait staff that makes fun of the customers, Collin and Reagan knew they wanted to eat there!

Reagan loved it, and wanted to participate in the worst way.  It's a good thing she got a hat, or she would have been devastated!

 Collin's hat said, "Ask me about my EPIC Barbie collection".

Reagan's hat said, "I kick puppies".
I can't say the food was good, but the experience was definitely memorable!!!

We walked around a little after lunch.

Collin posed in front of the Samuel Adams statue.

Reagan was hoping to visit the One Direction store, but it appears to have been a temporary shop, so we got ice cream instead (not that we wouldn't have got ice cream if we found the shop)!

It has been about four years since we last visited Faneuil Hall, and yet we saw one of the same street performance acts that we saw last time - The Red Trouser Show.

They perform a few acrobatic stunts during their show; it's fun for the kids to watch!  The last time we were there (May of 2009 - you can click here to read about that day), Reagan was a little over a year older than Kate is now, and Tom and I remember her rolling around on the ground while we watched the performance.  It was like deja vu with Kate yesterday as she rolled around on the ground!  After the show, we all headed home.

Even though we changed our plans, and didn't get to walk the Freedom Trail this time, it was a great day for all of us, and we were happy that Grandma and Grandpa shared the experience with us.  I am sure that we will find another day to walk the Freedom Trail.

Boston

I still have a little ache in my stomach.  I'm not sure that will go away anytime soon.  The cowardly act of terrorism that occurred during the Boston Marathon has hit me especially hard for many reasons.

Boston was my home for six years.  I loved every minute of every year that I spent in that city.  There was so much to love about it.  The history, the art, the architecture, the people, the atmosphere.  I was happy to be there, and for several years I had no intentions of leaving.

During the years I called Boston home, I loved attending the marathon.  It consumes the entire city.  Some Bostonians find it a nuisance because it is difficult to get around the city that day, but I loved the buzz of it all.  For a while, I lived right around the corner from the finish line, and my friends and I would cheer on the runners from the area where the bombs exploded.

I am devastated that lives were lost and so many people will have permanent scars and injuries due to this senseless act.  I am especially saddened by the death of the eight year old boy, Martin Richard.  Collin is eight.  I can't even write anything else about that.  I just cannot imagine the complete devastation of losing a child.

On Friday, during the manhunt for the remaining suspect, I was glued to the radio.  I tried to avoid putting the television on because I didn't want the kids to see too much.  They know what happened, but watching that much coverage is not good for anyone.  Even I realized that I had to turn the radio off and take a break from all of it.  It was such a relief at the end of the day to go to sleep knowing the suspect was in custody.  I do have to say that I am not completely comforted.  I am very concerned about the connections to New Bedford and UMASS Dartmouth.  I can only wait and hope that there is nothing for me to worry about.

In the aftermath of all of this, you would think that I would want to stay far away from Boston, but honestly, I have had a strong desire to be there.  Not to see the armed guards or makeshift memorials.  Not even to celebrate a job well done by law enforcement.  I simply want to see the Boston that I love, the parts of the city that I will always hold in my heart.  Faneuil Hall, Copley Square, Kenmore Square, my Alma mater Emerson College, the Public Gardens, the swan boats, Boston Common, the state house, Downtown Crossing, the Charles River, the esplanade, the Hatch Shell, Comm Ave, Newbury Street, the Boston Public Library, the Citgo sign, and even mother duck with her ducklings.  I want Boston to be just the way it was one week ago, and I just want to be there to see that the city, my old friend, is okay.

Well I love that dirty water
Oh, Boston, you're my home (oh, yeah)