A Note from a Bostonian

As a resident of Boston, I feel compelled to write about the tragic events that occurred at the Marathon on Patriot’s Day.

 

One of the many reasons I call Boston home is the extremely diverse population.  You want intellectual stimulation?  We have that.  Jazz clubs? No problem.  Passionate professional sports teams and their passionate fans? We have loads of them.  You want to find a Chinese New Year party or a Passover celebration? How about Ramadan or Diwali? My point is all are welcome here.

 

I want to first thank everyone for their concerned calls, texts and postings—we are fine and love you all for your concern.

 

But many people are not fine.  And three– eight-year-old Martin Richard of Dorchester, MA; twenty-nine-year-old Krystle Campbell of Arlington, MA and Boston University student and Chinese National Lu Lingzi—will never be “fine” again.

 

As of this writing, over 80 people are still in hospital of the 170+ who were wounded as a result of this cowardly attack.  There have been, and will continue to be surgeries, amputations and long rehabilitation paths ahead. But we have top tier medical centers and professionals—so I’m confident that the best care possible will be provided to all the victims of this unspeakable act of violence.

 

Eventually, the perpetrators will be brought to justice.  It’s too soon—and quite frankly dangerous—to speculate on who may have planted the devices.

 

In Massachusetts, we have a holiday called (as I mentioned earlier) “Patriot’s Day.”  It’s a 238-year old tradition dating back to the battles of Lexington and Concord.  The day reminds us of what we have fought for and the patriotism that makes us who we are. It is a celebration steeped in American History and we will celebrate the 239^th Patriot’s Day next year.  And the Boston Marathon—the oldest marathon in the states– will be run again as well.

 

We are Bostonians.  We will argue with Yankee fans, scream at our politicians, enjoy a wicked-good Sam Adams with a  “lobstah,” and help those in need.

 

And we will do it all again tomorrow.  Because that’s who we are.

 

We will mourn our dead, take care of our wounded.  And when we find out who did this….

 

Well.

 

We’ll “take care” of them too.