It has been very hard to put into context the events of school vacation week.  We have had to figure it out for ourselves and talk about it with the boys who would most certainly hear about it.  We did our best and they seem to be ok.  We talked about explosions and how people were hurt.  We reassured them our friends who were running we ok.   It was not until they were about to return to school that we talked about the fact that people died.  A boy the same age as Aidan, in a neighborhood where we have friends.  A boy known to many of Aidan’s friends.  Aidan’s first response was that it was amazing one three people died.  It could have been so much worse.  He was right.

The response has been tremendous- everyone has risen to the occasion and has proven why we love our city so much.  There is solace in that.

I have been thinking a lot about my visit to New Orleans two years ago.  Katrina ravaged parts of the city the year Aidan was born.  The levees broke the week of my birthday, my first birthday as a mom.  I remember how devastating it was and the death toll.  When I went to New Orleans I wanted to see the city for myself.  It felt weird, though, to take pictures and purchase a tour ticket to see the Lower Ninth Ward.  But I did.

I had an awesome tour guide.  He repeatedly talked about “my city” and with such pride.  As we were about to go to the most devastated parts of New Orleans someone asked about feeling like paying for a tour of a devastated area was an awful thing to do (as we were all feeling) and would we be imposing to take pictures.  His response was something I will never forget.  He told us his city suffered, but has been rebuilding and getting stronger.  Sharing the story of his city helped people.  We would repeat the story and it would continue to remind people of what happened.  And buying a ticket supported the economy, and helped to rebuild the city.  It was a powerful message of picking up and moving forward.  Remembering but rebuilding.

The Mr. Rogers quote is also something I have thought a lot about- look for the people running to help.  The people who caused this could not have picked a worse place- there were medical tents right there with the best trained emergency workers ready to help.  Some who volunteered to help on their day off.  It was the best of humanity.

It was a terrible day in Boston.  But the best of my city has shone brightly through.