Boston Today

[Smith1942]

So, it's a week after the bombings and Boston is still emerging from the fog, especially after the recent drama of Friday when we were told to stay in, no one knew where the suspect would surface, and it ended in yet more loss of life. There have been fundraisers to help people from my neighbourhood who have been affected - I went to one last night and am going to another tonight. This poor woman from nearby has lost her leg above the knee and also other injuries. And the woman who lost both her legs below the knee works at the salon I go to, although I've never met her. Just feel so sorry for all of them. You can't imagine how life-changing it is.

And Texas, of course - so sorry for all those people too. Obama should visit them also, and I hope their neighbourhoods also plan fundraisers for them.

Boston is having a minute's silence today at 2.50pm.

There are lots of ways online to donate to the victims' fund, if anybody wants to do that. (I won't post links in case against forum rules, but just Google it.)

I'm just reflecting on how many people's lives changed last week, both here in Boston, and in Texas, and people I know at home.

The good is how supportive everyone is: the way everyone helped others at the scene, all the fundraisers, and the donations for the victims - hundreds of thousands so far I believe - and the London marathon has sent messages of support. Pricescopers were also very obviously concerned about Boston even if they didn't live here or know anyone here, and were nothing but supportive, for which I thank you.

You get the odd terrible person who does things like this, but I still believe the majority of people are very kind.

 

[kenny]

Glad things are getting back to normal for you Bostonians.

 

[Smith1942]

Yup. You can't keep a good city down!

 

[ruby59]

Thank you for the update. My son works in Boston, not too far way from where it all occurred. He went to work Friday before the city virtually closed down and did not get back home until Saturday. I was kind of nervous that he was going into work today, but he said eveything is slowly returning to normal. I still worry if there are any of those bombs still lying around somewhere, so I asked him not to take his usual walk at lunch time. I know he will still venture out, but I am still a bit nervous.

 

[Smith1942]

You must be concerned about your son, Ruby, but do try not to worry too much. The FBI has footage of the whole event showing just one backpack each and Boston has been swept for further explosives. Also, it was a week ago, so any more devices would have either been found or blown up by now. I know it's concerning, but I do think the area is safe now. Security is better now than before, for example the Transit Police are conducting random bag searches on the T. I'm sure your son will be fine, really. Anything could happen to any of us when we step outside out front door, and even if anything else were to happen, the chances of him being involved are very slight indeed. The security forces are being very careful and I think it's safe for him to go out for a walk at lunchtime. You have to balance being sensible with living your life.

Do you live in a rural area? I've always lived in big cities - I was in London when the Tube bomb happened, and was brought up in England in the 1970s and 1980s when the IRA was active, no public trash cans anywhere and in fact one of their biggest bombs was in my town. So I suppose the threat of bombs isn't a new threat to me and I've always gone about my business anyway. I've never stayed off a train because of it, ever. But if you live in a quiet rural area then I can see how large cities where these things happen might seem threatening. I can see why you worry, but the chances of being involved in an event like that really are tiny. People have lived in Boston for decades without anything happening to them. The victims of last Monday were tremendously unfortunate. It's not the norm and really, your son will be just fine.

 

[ruby59]

Thank you. I do feel better now. And my son knowing that I am such a worry wart called to let me know he is OK.

I am not from a big city. Unfortunately, when the economy turned sour, my son had to look for work outside our home state. He commutes back and forth on the train, which is why he could not get back home until Saturday.

You are right that with all the police out there, Boston is probably safer than ever. What is scary to learn is the police are now reporting that they hijacked that car because they were planning to go to Manhatten. I wonder if they had not been caught, would they have done the same thing at the New York marathon?

And a shout out to the Boston police department for one fine job in bringing those two quickly to justice.