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)