A Beautiful Day in the City

We took a road trip to Boston today.  It was a beautiful spring day.  A perfect day, actually.

We walked from Copley Square to Faneuil Hall, down Boylston Street, to Newbury Street and through the Public Gardens.  Sidewalks were crowded with people and laughter was in the air.  The energy of the city was palpable.

It couldn't have been a more perfect day.  It seemed like every tulip opened its eyes to the world today.

Just two weeks ago, Boston was a war zone.  Today, flowers bloomed on schedule.  The make-shift memorial for the victims of the marathon bombing had been reduced to an unmarked space with a few Boston policemen standing by.

But people know.  People remember.  People leave teddy bears and flowers and messages written on the sidewalk in chalk.  People find trees just a few steps from where the first bomb exploded and hang momentos as if they're Christmas ornaments.

People bring "Boston Strong" stickers and place them on the trunk of a tree.  People don't forget. People won't ever forget.

(Proud of 14-year-old Nick for pulling that sticker out of his pocket and placing it on the tree.  Even prouder that he thought to bring it with him.)

Boston IS strong.  It really is.  To be there in that space, to walk the streets and see the city so alive, to know the energy is real and the city is stronger, brings great comfort.  It doesn't erase the tragedy of two weeks ago or take away the pain and suffering - mentally and physically - of the hundreds of people who stood at the finish line anticipating celebratory hugs.  It does, however, remind us that when people work together and pool resources, so much is possible.

www.onefundboston.org

In only a few weeks, The One Fund has raised over twenty-seven million dollars to help those people most affected by the events of April 15th.  Twenty-seven million!  

People helping people. It's how it's supposed to be.

We encourage you to contribute to The One Fund if you haven't already.  As Governor Patrick said, “At moments like this, we are one state, one city, and one people.”  He is most certainly right.

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We will return in a couple days with an update on our own mission to help people and the story of a young boy whose moment in the spotlight served as the signal for Kids Five and Over to release the pause button and get back to work.

Check in again soon...