Tags
attack, bombing, Boston, home, Marathon, musings, random thoughts, S.A. Young author, tragedy, video
Share it
Photo: Chee-Onn Leong/Shutterstock
Beantown, The Hub, The Athens of America, The Olde Towne, City on a Hill, The Walking City…and home of the world’s oldest and most venerable marathon race.
I’m sure that, by now, you’ve all heard about the horrific events that took place near the end of yesterday’s 117th running of the Boston Marathon. I don’t need to rehash the gory details here. They can easily be found if you want them. That’s not what this post is about.
It’s also not about the surreal experience of walking past barricaded streets (I live a block away from the edge of the one mile square section of the city that is now a “crime scene”) and National Guard troops just to get to the subway to come to work. While it did elicit an emotional response that I still feel while typing this, it also gave me a profound feeling of solidarity with the people of New York. I never truly understood what it must have felt like, nearly twelve years ago, to have one’s city, one’s home, violated in such a way, but unfortunately I do now.
I won’t speculate about who would perpetrate this event on a day when we were celebrating not only elite athletes, but the patriots who founded our country. There’s been too much unfounded finger pointing and arm waving about the cause of this tragedy already.
More eloquent voices than mine have sung and will continue to sing the praises of the city of Boston and especially, her people.
This post is because I am grateful to have a place where I can voice my grief and share my love for my home, with all of you.
C C Cedras
K R Brorman
S A Young
9 Comments
April 16, 2013 at 11:13 am
You and every other Bostonian are in my prayers. *hugs* <3
April 16, 2013 at 11:55 am
Much love and prayers going out to the city. I can’t wait to visit again soon.
April 16, 2013 at 3:42 pm
And today, here in Blacksburg/@ VA Tech, we are honoring the memory of the 32 students and faculty who lost their lives (and 17 wounded) six years ago because a sadly, mentally deranged young man who struggled all his life to speak felt he had to turn his anger outward and upon himself to make some point or other that we will never know or understand. And even with a history of mental illness was able to purchase high capacity/powered weapons, including online.
Whether the tragedy in Boston was from a similar cause or something more horrifically organized, these events become part of our national (and even global) consciousness. I fear for what it means that our consciousness is getting more and more “crowded” with horror and sadness.
I’m so sorry that this has happened in your Home.
April 16, 2013 at 4:11 pm
Nearly every day on the calendar, it seems, marks the anniversary of another of these horrible events or reopens old wounds barely healed over. (The last mile of yesterday’s race was dedicated to the victims of the Newtown shooting.)
I’ve been thinking about VA Tech today, for a number of reasons, not least of which is to be thankful for what can only be considered an absolute MIRACLE that the death toll, the devastation and senseless loss of life yesterday weren’t even more catastrophic.
April 16, 2013 at 4:50 pm
It’s all mind boggling and triggers a roller coaster of emotions in all of us. Living so close to the horror must bring new meaning to the term “too close to home.” This is a wonderful post.
I remember how the devastation of 9/11 united our country. I imagine that the reality of what happened hasn’t quite hit everyone yet. It’s all so surreal.
Hugs and prayers go out to you and all those affected.
April 16, 2013 at 11:16 pm
Events like these truly baffle me. That it happened near someone I care about completely frightens me. Hugs and prayers to all of you in your home town.
May 1, 2013 at 10:08 am
Thank you for echoing my thoughts…
May 1, 2013 at 10:17 am
It’s painful when we feel our “home” has been violated by tragedy or acts of violence, but it makes us appreciate what we have all the more and brings us together in a powerful way. Thanks, Gretchen, for stopping by.