We are Bostonians.
As I was writing my blog post yesterday, I received a text from a great friend stating "Are your brother and the other Boston people you know safe after the Boston marathon bombs?". I've been cutting down on my time on social networks so I didn't know anything about the bombings at the time of text. I was in shock since my best friend/brother told me that morning that he was going to watch the marathon with his day off for Patriots Day. So I went to Twitter for the most up to date news and I was in a mixed mood of shock and being worried. I recently took out the Boston Marathon jacket my brother gave me from my closest just a few weeks ago and I just stared at it while trying to get in touch with my brother. (I love the jacket.)
After calling my brother did not work, I immediately went to Google Talk where he quickly responded that he was fine and was only a T stop away from the incident. It was a relief knowing that he was fine. Then, I went to Facebook to see if my friends that lived in Boston were okay; thankfully many of them posted something, basically relieving me of some stress (any post helped). Then, I contacted a few others that I didn't see on the various social media sites. Technology helped me get an instant sense of relief in a chaotic moment from half way across the country; this wasn't available a decade ago.
Google quickly responded to the tragedy by creating a Person Finder site where people can add information about people and others will be able to search for that information. There was also a Google Doc created full of generous people informing people who need a place to stay that they are willing to house them.
It is times like these where the majority of the people show great courage and possess a strong sense of community. The American Red Cross had a huge overflow of blood donors that they had enough blood at the time (their site crashed, news came from Twitter) but more will probably be needed in the upcoming weeks. I'm sure many people, including me, have seen countless pictures of heroic actions by incredible people; one is particularly strong where a man is holding a person's artery from bleeding out.
Now it is time to search for an explanation for this tragedy. Even if no answers are found, those affected by this horrific event will strive to overcome the pain and grief with the support of the great city of Boston and the entire United States Of America behind them. While some of us pronounce our R's, all Americans will be Bostonians for a while.
