Thoughts of Boston

Watching the events unfold in Boston over the last week have been surreal.  It's strange feeling so connected to the situation yet so removed physically from everything that has been going on.  Along with many others, we have tried to follow the events but unlike those in Boston, we have been able to carry on with our normal lives which has me feeling a little guilty.  I am assuming that there are many individuals who feel the same way.

Last Monday, we had friends visiting from Boston and I had taken them to downtown Strasbourg to sightsee and grab a late dinner.  On our way home, I happened to see that I had a Facebook message from someone I knew in Paraguay 15 years ago.  She wanted to know if I was okay since she heard there was an explosion in Boston.  I didn't think much of it considering how far she was and that small stories can often be exaggerated when reported internationally.  I did a quick Google search just to make sure.  The results were hard to believe.  I sat there with our friends from Boston in complete disbelief.

Living abroad, we have the unique opportunity to choose how much information we seek out about these unfolding events.  While I was curious as to the status of all of it, I also found myself holding back from reading too much.  I can only imagine the intensity of the coverage in the US, especially for friends in Boston.  It was surreal to watch the live scenes from our living room with coverage from very familiar spots.  In fact, Jean was able to see our car (black Acura in front of the police cruiser) that we sold right before we left Boston while watching the news (he sold it to someone in Watertown, MA and remembered the street name of where he lived - Jean later emailed the guy confirming his hunch).    

It's funny - people here ask me all the time if I ever get homesick.  I usually tell them that I haven't really yet.  This week changed things for me.  The events this week have made me realize that my connection to Boston is still incredibly strong and I longed to be "home".

Jean and I made a home in Boston and while neither of us were born and raised there, it is a place that we cherish.  It is the place where we married, bought our first place and gave birth to two beautiful children.  Boston was our home for almost a decade and it remains a city very close to our hearts.  The events of the past week have made me cherish the city even more.  There is an incredible strength and pride in Boston than is undeniable. Though our home is in France for now, I anxiously await the time when we will call Boston home again.  Now if I could just come up with some sort mantra...

...Big Papi, any thoughts?