It was six months ago this week that the Marathon Bombing happened.  Half a year has passed, yet it still seems like it just happened.  In the six months that have followed there have been fund raisers, updates about survivors and pre-trial hearings.  There have been memorials and milestones.  Time has passed but the pain is still very much there.

“Boston Strong” was the initial rally cry.  Our city was not going to let anyone break our spirit.  Boston Strong appeared on T shirts, banners, bracelets- anything and everything that could be merchandised.  Some of the proceeds went to the One Fund.  I would like to think all of it, but I know better.

A few short months after the Marathon the Bruins were in the Stanley Cup Finals. Boston Strong was everywhere.  And people were starting to tire of hearing and seeing our rally cry.  Last night our beloved Red Sox won the ALCS.  Boston Strong was everywhere again.  Many have asked why and if it is appropriate to associate the Sox victory with the Marathon slogan.

I think it is a perfect fit.  The Red Sox played at 11am the day of the Marathon.  People were coming from Fenway to the finish line- this is a yearly tradition on Patriots Day.  The season was two weeks old.  We expected nothing of this team.  Last year was the worst season generations had ever seen.  We had a new manager, half of the roster was new, and our sell out streak was feared to be ending.  The Sox canceled their game the night of the lockdown.  Upon returning to Fenway, Ortiz, the unofficial Red Sox captain grabbed the microphone and  gave his now infamous cry,  “This is our F**ing city.  Never Forget.  Boston Strong.”  The Red Sox went on to spend their season honoring first responders, survivors and families, raising money for the One Fund and, during the ALCS, the sister of the youngest victim sang with her parish the Star Spangled Banner.

They are the impossible team- scrappy, bearded, hardly known.  But like our city, they were resilient, determined and worked hard day in and day out.  They never gave up.  They wanted to make us proud.

Millions of dollars were lost when businesses shut down in the aftermath of the marathon.  For every play off game area businesses benefit.  That is the gift of our local sports teams to our city.

The Sox gave us a reason to believe, an opportunity to give honor to those who deserved recognition, a reprieve from the trauma of that day.  The Red Sox deserve the Boston Strong title.  They made us all believe again that Boston is Strong.

Here’s to hoping a parade of duck boats will crossing the Marathon finishing line this month.  It seems the only fitting end to this season-  honor for the Sox, the Mayor and an opportunity for Boston to celebrate being Boston Strong.

A great story that echoes my sentiments- ESPN 10/18/2013

A couple of weeks ago we woke up to news on a Tuesday morning that there would be bus delays in Boston for students who take transportation to school.  It seemed to start small but by the time children should have been boarding buses it was a full blown strike.  It was an illegal strike according to BPS.  The drivers staged the strike, not officially backed by the union.  They were protesting a number of grievances including a new GPS system that allows parents to track where their child’s bus is.

On that Tuesday it was estimated that 30% of students missed school without adequate transportation. Families struggled to figure out alternative plans.  Teachers spent class time calling families to be sure there would be someone to pick up children at the end of the day.

We are very fortunate that we have a large network and support group that can help us out when we need it.  While the boys are officially on the transportation lists (we live 1.1 mile from the school, qualifying us), just about every day they are driven to and from school.  We are lucky to have people to help us.  We are lucky to have flexible jobs that allow us to make necessary arrangements.  For that reason, our kids had no problem being in school the day of the bus strike.  Not everyone is so lucky.  Access is necessary for equality in education.

On that day of the bus strike, Boston Ballet came to Aidan’s class.  There is a program available to third graders in BPS.  Students “audition” and those who express interest are offered the opportunity to participate in a ten week program at Boston Ballet beginning in January.  Children meet other students from other schools, there are approximately 5-6 students from each classroom invited.  Transportation, dance clothes and shoes and lessons are provided at no cost to families.  It is an exceptional opportunity.  But a student has to be there to audition.  Access is necessary for equality.

Aidan was very excited to be chosen but immediately mentioned that not everyone had a chance to “audition” since children were absent.  It turns out there was also a field trip for fifth graders to Thompson’s Island scheduled for that day.

There is another reason we are very lucky.  We have a fantastic school principal.  When asked about the students who missed the day she reassured me that those who missed would have a chance to audition on another day- Boston Ballet would be coming back.  And the field trip was rescheduled as well.

Without everyone in the classroom to learn and to teach each other, our classrooms are not at their best, most equitable or fair to all children.  When the bus drivers decided to strike, they not only limited the families who could not provide transportation for their children, they also shortchanged all our children from a day of teaching and learning.  It was a day we could not get back but luckily (in our school) all children were still given exceptional opportunities even if it needed to happen on another day.