I’m still processing what happened yesterday in Boston, vacillating between being really, really sad and confused/angry/frustrated. I love that city. I have so many friends there.

I’m trying to focus on the acts of bravery, heart, and selflessness that Boston residents displayed yesterday. Those are Boston traits.

Yesterday, I ran an errand around 1 pm to buy lightbulbs. As I left the office, I looked at the sky. Took a picture, actually, because it was so blue. Here in the northeast, blue blue skies in springtime are hard to come by. Later that afternoon, when I heard the first reports of the bombings at the marathon, I immediately thought of that blue sky. The same blue sky that I remembered from the morning of 9/11. That juxtaposition of beauty/darkness. Eerie.

As I watched footage of the explosions later that night, seeing such chaos on a street that I’ve walked countless times with my love, I was struck by the symbolism. All those flags lined the street to signify international camaraderie, and represented participants in the race. As the blast made those flags shake, I cried. The world needs to remember that we are all in this together. This kind of violence needs to stop.

Thinking of all those injured, maimed, frightened yesterday. Thinking of all those runners who were nearing the finish line when some coward detonated the bombs. Finding solace in stories of people helping one another in the middle of all that darkness. Thinking of my Boston (how the gold dome of the state house glows in late afternoon sun, the north end cannoli, concerts at the garden, Miek’s friends at Uptown Cafe, Copley, all my Batesies who grew up there or just “15 minutes outside” the city.)

Sending love.