Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Boston Marathon bombing

Two days ago, at approximately 2pm, two bombs exploded at the Boston Marathon finish line, killing 3 people and injuring at least 175.  Fortunately, for the first time since I arrived in Boston, I did not go downtown to watch the race, and no one that I know was hurt.  Instead I was working at a coffee shop in Ball Square, Somerville.  I learned about initially via text message from a friend, and then opened up the internet to reveal what had happened -- a gruesome and awful tragedy.

For me, it has been a little shocking but also a little detached from myself.  After all, I've watched everything on TV, in the same way as I had for any other disaster event that has occurred in cities around the country/world.  The difference of course is that this event took place within biking distance of where I live, and many friends I knew had been at the site anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 hours before the bombing; I feel incredibly fortunate that I don't even know anyone who knows anyone who was hurt.

Sad times.