Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Boston

I'm deeply saddened by the events that occurred yesterday afternoon during the Boston Marathon.  My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this senseless tragedy.  I'm sad for our city, our traditions, and the innocence of our children.  True, we'll stand together and recover.  The streets will be cleaned and storefronts replaced but it really won't ever be the same. 

Explaining the Boston Marathon and what it means to the city and the running community is not an easy task.  It's like explaining childbirth to someone who has never had the experience.  Boston's a tough marathon to run.  You need to qualify (and those times are fast) or you need to raise money for a charity.  This isn't a marathon you sign up for at the last minute.  It's a huge event for the city. If you don't personally know of anyone running it, you know of a friend of a friend who is.

Rich and I are both long time runners.  I've never run a marathon but Rich has completed several, including Boston, twice.  Yesterday was Patriot's Day here in Massachusetts which means that many had the day off from work.  I did not and neither did Rich.  A few weeks ago, Rich began working as a consultant for a company located in the Back Bay (a few blocks from the marathon's finish).  This isn't a permanent position, only one that will last for a few months until the assignment is complete. But work is work!  I was rooting for American runners Shalane Flanagan and Kara Goucher so I checked the internet for updates during the first part of the marathon.  I was also silently cheering on NKOTB member Joey McIntyre, who was running his first marathon after raising funds for the Alzheimer's Association.

Rich had told me that morning that he was probably going to walk over to the finish line to check out the marathon at some point.  We emailed back and forth throughout the day but he never mentioned having watched any part of the marathon.  I emailed him after Joey finished with a time of 3:57 but then I became completely engulfed in work.  We were trying to get onto the website for the Pennsylvania Dept. of Revenue but it was down.  Shortly after 3:00, I clicked onto Yahoo to use it as a search engine for the PA DOR and saw the update that there had been explosions at the finish line.  It all spiraled from there.  Sirens kept passing by heading over to the finish line.  I called Rich at work and there was no answer.  I left a voicemail.  I waited.  I sent an email.  I sent a text.  I kept telling myself that he was probably just in a meeting but I still felt like throwing up.  I looked at my inbox and the last email I had from him was at 2:00.  I couldn't focus.  Were there later emails that I had deleted?  I started calling his work number every 5 minutes.  He finally answered at 3:40, just as he was returning to his desk from a meeting.  They'd heard the explosions but thought that it was something on the Turnpike, which is very close to his office.  

My panic, compared to what others experienced, was just a tiny fraction.  I can't even begin to imagine...

Again, my heart goes out to all the victims and their families.  Donations can be made here.

11 comments:

Amanda said...

I thought of you guys yesterday, was glad when I saw on your twitter that you are all as well as can be at a time like this.

Chantel said...

I, too, was tracking Joey running as well as tracking few friends of friends. It was so much fun to think about these people and the amazing marathon I have heard about for years. My heart goes out to Boston and everyone...all the families from Newton who were at mile 26. I cannot imagine.

Ashlee said...

I'm so glad that you were all okay, I'm sure you didn't get much work done waiting for Rich. How scary!

I know what it's like to have your city rocked to the core with something horrible (I'm in OKC).

Thinking about you guys and everyone in Boston.

Jutta said...

A very sad and mad feeling about that also in my heart. I was there in Boston to see my friend running elen years ago. It was something special and a day I will always remember. I and my husband flew all the way from Finland to experience the spectacular marathon. So horrible that there are crazy people trying to spoil and hurt and distroy.

Siné said...

I am glad you are both okay. My brother-in-law had finished just before the blasts so he and my sister heard the first and saw the 2nd. I am so thankful that they are both unharmed too. How are you addressing the events with your children? Mine are too young to get it at all (Just shy of 3 years and almost 18months), but I have wondered what I would say if they were older.

Sarah said...

Sine - Thank God your sister and BIL are okay. How terrifying!

My girls don't know what happened. They understand death better than most 5-6 year olds but at this age, I feel like this is something they don't need to know about. Now, if they had seen it on TV, etc, it would be different but they've been sheltered from this. They also don't know about Newtown and neither do any of their classmates so right now, I'm not worried about someone slipping and saying something.

I'm extremely mad too. And you're right Chantel - the families from Newtown were right there. Absolutely maddening.

Christi said...

I've just been numb since Monday. It's such a seminal event for Boston. It's a holiday, April vacation, the unofficial start of spring. So many families and spectators cheering on the "regular runners." The ones who wear their names on their shirts so you can cheer for them as they pass by.

You must have been so frantic trying to find Rich. So glad he was safe. So sad for the victims, the injured, the ones who were nearby but remained unscathed, the whole community.

Nadine said...

I am so glad you and your family are ok. I can't imagine the thoughts that were racing through your mind when you couldn't reach your husband. I have family and friends in Boston and last year they attended the marathon. I am so thankful they were working instead this year.

kdliberty said...

I just learned one of the Doctor's were I live had justed finshed the race 5 minutes before IT happened. It is the talk of the town were I live. It took Dr. P a few minutes to find his wife. I can't imagine...

Anonymous said...

Please be safe this morning Sarah. Hopefully you stay home from work today.

Erin

Siné said...

Thank you for replying to my comment. It is a blessing that your children can live without knowing about what is going on right now. It has been a relief to not have to explain it to my kiddos either.