I have to vent a little...
Nearly 24 hours later, I'm not sure what to make of all that's happened. I'm still in shock. Like many people that live around here, we consider ourselves Bostonians and are very proud of our city. Even in the wake of this terrible event, I am proud to say that so many people at the scene went right into harm's way to help in any way that they could.
Growing up around the Boston area, people everyday can be what we call MA-Holes (to put it lightly), and seeing so many of these people put that aside to help their fellow man makes me feel good. Honestly, I have no clue what I would do in a situation like that.
At work, everyone here either knows someone who was running the marathon, or was volunteering, or was just in town for the day. Security here is the highest I've seen, and we are outside the city. Patriot's Day here is a great day in the year where people gather in town to go watch the Sox, watch the marathon, or go party and have a great time. It's the day that really kicks off all the fun outdoor spring activities that make Boston great. Right now, I'm listening to a co-worker tell her story of her experience near the explosions. Another co-worker's neighbor was the little boy that was killed. Both of my bosses had either family or friends involved in the marathon. Neither are here in the office today, and I hope that their families and friends are ok.
For me, seeing violence and senseless acts on the news is one thing. On TV, it's distant. Hearing people that I interact with every day tell what happened at a place that I've probably walked by a bunch of times before is a whole different story. It's real.
Part of me is extremely angry. I, like many others, want to find the low life monsters that did this and see them suffer in the very worst way possible. But that won't bring people back from the dead, and that won't heal the wounds that many have today, both physically and emotionally. And (not to flounder the thread...) hearing the rumors of those Westboro wackos planning to protest at the victim's funerals... bad move. If they do, I highly doubt they will survive the ordeal.
As a Bostonian, I will keep on living my life and stay proud of this city like I always have. Acts of terror are meant to scare people and scar them physically and emotionally. Life needs to go on or they will win. MA$$Hole and I are going to a show in town on Thursday night, and we aren't changing our plans. Many others feel the same way. You just don't mess with Boston.