I'm home.

Well it's been quite a night and quite a day. I was up most of the night following the story. All the local stations and CNN. Not that I wanted to stay up but I could not sleep. I slept about an hour just before I had to get up at 5:30. I do remember hearing a sound in the distance somewhere between 10 pm and 11pm. I didn't know what it was but it sure sounded like it could have been an explosion. It turns out that was the explosion that occurred as the police and authorities were chasing the bombing suspects after the officer was shot and killed at M.I.T. They didn't say it at the time but my first thought was, "Is this the bombing suspect?". The news media didn't report it as such and treated it as a seperate incident. Not that I blame them. On the other hand when watching the various news conferences who ever was speaking, a police chief, FBI, mayor or governor would mention that they wouldn't answer certain questions and members of the press would go ahead and ask those questions anyway. Makes me wonder about their intelligence.  

I am not thrilled with my company either. Cities surrounding Boston have been closed off. All businesses were ordered to close.  Somerville the city next to mine was not in lock down. Though I have never mentioned it if you read my previous blogs it's pretty obvious where I live. I work in Somerville. If you drive about a mile up the road you pass the Museum of Science. In Boston. A little further up the road is Mass. General Hospital. Somerville was not in lock down. The parking lot of my store borders Cambridge. Literally where the parking lot ends is where the border between Somerville and Cambridge. There's a park, a hockey rink and the East Cambridge Health Center. You could walk to where the health center from where I parked in about 20 seconds. My company closed their Cambridge stores but they left my store open because technically we were in Somerville not Cambridge. Those money grubbing bastards. People were nervous all day. Here's a picture taken from my car while I was on a break listening to the radio.

 Here's the store.

 The police were a constant presence.

It's not a great picture but you can see the top of the Prudential Building from the lot. That's more or less where the finish line of the marathon is.

I was just at the Watertown Mall on Monday, the day of the marathon. There were helicopters overhead all day. The suspect lived four streets over from my store. Who knows he might have shopped there. One of my coworkers mother knew the M.I.T. officers who was killed. Even more sad, the aunt of the little boy killed at the marathon works in my store. She's the sister of his father.

Update It's now about 7pm and gunshots have been heard in Watertown. It's unknown what's going on at the moment. I'm going to sign off at the moment. I haven't eaten yet and I'm tired. If there is a conclusion to this I sure all of you will know soon enough.  

 

At the moment all other blog subjects are trivial.

First of all I would like to say that I am aware how some people around the country may feel about Boston and Massachusetts. Sometimes we may come across as smug and toot our own horns about all we have and I guess I am guilty of this as well. On the other hand we do have so much to be proud of. I am more proud than ever now. Despite the horrible events of a few days ago, to watch people rush towards the areas of the bombings without regard for their lives to try and assist the injured. The coordination at a moments notice of all the medical personnel, who fortunately happened to be there because of the marathon, and just everyday people risking their lives to help the injured. I'm not saying that this wouldn't have happened in any other American city because it has. Atlanta in 1996. New York, at the twin towers, a much larger tragedy. Yet it is a tribute to the people and personnel in the medical community that more people didn't die. It is a tribute to the world class hospitals in the area. It is a tribute to the city. I defy anyone who has walked the freedom trail to not get choked up when you walk passed the grave of Sam Adams. Not some character on a beer bottle but the actual Sam Adams who agitated the people in the Old South Church to dump tea in the harbor to defy the tyranny of the British. The reigning super power in the world at the time. Walk by the grave of John Hancock. Benjamin Franklins parents.The site of the  Boston massacre. The Old North Church, "One if by land two if by sea." Then go to the Lexington Green where the first shots of the American Revolution. This is America's birthplace and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

I am also touched by the outpouring of support from all around the country, even the world. There's no greater rivalry in sports than the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox and yet at a game in Yankee Stadium they played "Sweet Caroline" the Red Sox theme song and New York stood united with Boston and flashed both team logo's on the big screens saying something like we're with you Boston. In fact the whole country has thrown there support behind Boston. It makes me proud to be a Bostonian and more importantly it makes me proud to be American. This will not stop us as Americans. This will not stop us as Bostonians. We have more big events coming up. There's the Fourth of July Boston Pops Concert and fireworks by the Charles River. That also draws huge crowds. Surely there will have to be new restriction. It is the sign of the times we live in, but the concert will go on. There's the First Night Celebration on New Years Eve. Something that once again, began here in Boston and spread across the country. We as a nation cannot let these cowardly acts stop us. They can only strengthen our resolve. Despite all our problems, acts like these don't weaken us, it brings us more together.

As I mentioned in my previous post, this has touched me personally. The third victim grew up around the corner from where I presently live. Her family still lives there. My lady friend Arlene knows the family. Her daughters went to school with the young lady. Moreover, one of Arlene's daughters goes to the marathon every year to cheer on the runners, hand out water and so on. This year, for whatever reason, she decided not to go and everyone is grateful for that.

There is a police presence everywhere in my city. I have not been to downtown Boston but from what I see on the news the city is full of police both local and state as well as the National Guard and the F.B.I. and I'm sure there are other governmental agencies as well. It's not a sight you like to see in America but I guess it's reassuring none the less.

The above was written early in the morning on Wednesday. It is now about 7:45 Wednesday evening. I have been watching local news and CNN. I just watched and interview with some Boston Police and an E.m.t. What heroes! They along with firefighters from a firehouse that's right there and plain civilians rushed towards the blast area not away. In an instant you saw the worst of humanity and the best.

I guess I will wrap this up now. When I get the time I am going to make a slide show of my beautiful Boston. I know I have posted many of these pictures in the past both here and on the late lamented Live Spaces but I don't care. Despite my sadness and anger I am more proud of my city than ever and I want to share my beautiful Boston.

Thank you everyone.

The tragedy hits close to home.

I was coming home from work about a half an hour ago from this writing. As I made the turn to enter my neighborhood I saw all these television trucks one street over from my house. As you can imagine I was concerned. There were several police cars as well. I arrived home grabbed my camera and walked back.

It turns out the third victim grew up around the corner from me. My lady friend, who lives next door, knew the young lady. Her daughters went to school with her. She no longer lived there but her family still does. They had made a statement to the press.

At this point I don't have much more to say except Arlene is quite upset having watch this woman grow up and play with her daughters. She married the son of a guy who grew up next to me. Her name was Crystal Campbel.