Something terrible happened recently, in one of the most special places on earth to me. Boston. I grew up just a couple miles north of the city, and have so many memories there that will forever be close to my heart no matter where I live.
There is sad news every day, I realize that, and care very much about the people that we share this small world with no matter where they are. Since, in our home, we are not inundated with the constant stream of repeating news, I can usually take a step back a little better, and think about events in my own time, and way. But this event, these wonderful people who were hurt, many of whom are just beginning their recovery, I can't stop thinking about them, and that special place.
For me, Boston is like a first love.
I remember skating on the frog pond and riding the swan boats when I was very young. Taking my kids to sit on the Make Way for Duckling statues and to the Children's museum. Starting in high school there were Red Sox games (in the old $10 bleacher seats). Going to bed in 86 thinking we won the series, and waking up in shock. The way we all felt on October 28, 2004, you know, the morning after the Sox won the World Series in the greatest come from behind winning streak ever (or evah :-) when everyone was smiling and hugging, and, well, it was wicked awesome.
The Museum of Science, MFA, Hatch Shell, the BPL, Victor Hugo bookstore, and Symphony Hall. I spent so many days over the years at these special places, they are the pegs on which I hang decades of memories.
My 21st birthday, first drink was a "Yellow Submarine" at the Hard Rock Cafe. That same magical summer, I remember watching John Williams conduct his last 4th of July Pops Concert before officially handing the baton to Keith Lockhart. On our piano sits a photo of the night my dream come true and I met Mr. Williams at Symphony Hall years later, to celebrate that treasure's 100th anniversary.
I will be forever grateful to the doctors and nurses in the NICUs at Boston Children's Hospital and Tufts Floating Hospital who literally saved Joshua & Noah's lives when they were both born prematurely.
Please excuse the rambling, it's the flood of memories, these and hundreds more. Mostly happy, some bittersweet. None could have happened anywhere else in the world but in Boston.
Dear Boston, thank you for everything. I love you, and am so sorry that you were hurt like this. All I've been thinking about since this happened is jumping on a train and getting up there to wrap my arms around you. I know you'll come out of this fine, I just really want to give you a hug. I miss you more than you know, more than I thought I would. You are all in our prayers.
Until I can get on that train, I'll see you in my dreams.
Peace,
~Michelle
“This will be our reply to violence:
to make music more intensely,
more beautifully,
more devotedly than ever before.”
to make music more intensely,
more beautifully,
more devotedly than ever before.”
