Our Town

Our family has called Boston home for almost 4 years.  We have fallen in love with this beautiful, historic city for many reasons.  It has the overall feel and cultural offerings of a much larger city.  It provides refreshing access to the mountains as well as the sea.  It affords the delight and enjoyment of all four glorious seasons. It is home to a particularly passionate, forthright and tenacious people.  

On Monday Boston was attacked.  It was attacked on one of the most celebrated of days for our city.  You see, Marathon Monday is much bigger than imagined and publicized.  The marathon itself draws well over 20,000 racers and 500,000 spectators and it is recognised as one of the world's best-known road racing events.  Businesses and schools are closed allowing for the entire race route to be lined with masses of boisterous fans and supporters alike. Even further, the Red Sox traditionally host a mid-morning game at Fenway encouraging fans at its conclusion to spill into downtown to cheer on the marathon runners in their final mile.

However, the marathon revelry is only one part of this special New England holiday.  It is also Patriots Day, a day when this fiercely patriotic city pauses to remember its rich origins and the sacrifices that were made to get here. Marathon Monday also serves as the unofficial start to the much deserved and anticipated spring season.  

The people of Boston were out en masse on Monday.  

We have watched the marathon from the sidelines every year that we have been here.  We cheered runners on this year at Heartbreak Hill near Boston College.  It is close to the 20 mile mark of the race.  Knowing this will be our last Boston Marathon due to our upcoming relocation, Greg and I contemplated taking the boys to watch from the finish line this year to experience the race from that perspective.  We decided against it as he was scheduled for an afternoon work call.  

Fate. Luck. Providence.  By any description, I am mourning the loss of life, praying for those injured and affected and holding my family close.