Just over two weeks ago we rode our bikes down to meet some friends at the bottom of Heartbreak hill here in Boston to watch the marathon. Getting there took a little longer than expected, due to the fact that we were stopping to tend to the kids and also to watch some of the runners as they passed. We ended up meeting our friends at about mile 19-20 and started cheering on all the runners as they passed. A lot of the runners had their names written on their arms, or shirts and we would yell them out as they ran by. I thought this was genius! No better way to stay motivated then to have people yelling your name and cheering you on the entire race.
We clapped and cheered for about an hour or so. We waited for a friends dad, who was running the race, to pass us before we packed up to leave. Little did we know that on our bike ride home, some terrible things would happen.
When I arrived home, still oblivious to what had happened at the finish line, I posted this picture to instagram.
The energy at the marathon was really incredible. I couldn't help but want to join the race. Seeing people's excitement as you called their name. Encouraged them to keep going, that they had come so far. It was really an exciting feeling.
After posting my picture to instagram I had a friend comment and ask if we were ok. I immediately had the thought to turn on the TV and that's when I realized what had happened. All of it had taken place as we were riding our bikes home from the race. All of it happened within 4 miles of our home and it still seemed so unreal.
The city was in chaos. I have never heard so many sirens in my life. The feeling of excitement left me and I began to feel physically ill. The obvious unknowns were really hard to deal with. Who did this tragic thing and why. We spent all that evening sitting at home, watching the news. I didn't even know how to react. These are streets I've walked on, these are streets near my home. These were people I had seen just a short time before, as they passed me back at mile 19. It was all so incredibly hard to wrap my mind around, almost as if it were happening someplace completely different.
The following day Andy's school was cancelled. I can't even remember what we did that day, but I do remember going around town and running some errands. I don't know why the thought of who ever did this still being free didn't scare me, but maybe part of me didn't want to allow that.
The following few days went on as normal, until Thursday night. Thursday night there were crazy sirens blaring outside. I knew something was going on, and again I turned on the TV. This time it was a scene at MIT, where a police officer had been shot and severely wounded (later he would lose his life). I text several of my friends back and forth until about 2am. I couldn't help but wonder what was happening to the city of Boston. When I went to bed I was still oblivious to the fact that the guys who committed this crime, were also the marathon bombers.
When I woke up in the morning the story that happened during the night began to be unfolded, as I am sure many of you saw. Here is what happened in a short explanation...
The suspects who had killed the MIT officer had hijacked a car (or two), one of which (a mercedes suv) still had the owner of the car inside. After they hijacked the car, and took the owners money they told him that they were the marathon bombers. They stopped at a gas station (less than half a mile from our house) to fill up their tank and while one brother went inside, the other pumped the gas. This is the the moment that the hostage took the opportunity to make a run for it, which ultimately led to the capture of the brothers...
When the owner of the car escaped and called 911 the police began a chase of the brothers in the SUV. During the chase they severely wounded another officer and also proceeded to throw some explosive devices out of the window. Once they reached Watertown (about 3 miles from our house) the chase began on foot when the officers found the abandoned SUV. Eventually they caught the brothers and there was an intense shootout, where the oldest brother was hurt and taken to the hospital. Before they apprehended the older brother the younger of the two got in another car to try and escape. In his attempts to flee he ran over his brothers body and drove away.
So here we are, on Friday morning and I am seeing all this on the news. The governor comes on and tells us that specific cities are on lockdown, including ours. The police were stationed in Watertown at the Target that I go to multiple times a week, a mere two miles from our house. In their efforts to catch the second brother, who they believed was now on foot (because they found the car he fled in abandoned on the street), they set up a 20 block perimeter and began to search each home in that area.
During this time we are getting stir crazy and I am exhausted from sitting and watching the news (if you can believe it). Andy tells me that he is going to take Noah and go with some friends down to the 3rd level of the parking garage (which is underground) and let them ride their bikes, etc. I wasn't super comfortable with the idea, mostly because Andy doesn't have reception on his cell phone down there and if something happened I couldn't reach him, but I let him make the decision. About 20 minutes after they were gone one of my friends text me and said that their emergency alarm was going off (this is in the apartment building that is over the parking garage). I immediately begin to panic. I have no way of getting a hold of Andy and to even know if they are ok. Meanwhile everyone in the building evacuates and the building is flooded with police men (some with their guns drawn) shouting at everyone to get out! Andy and our friend Taylor heard the alarm in the garage and realized that something wasn't right. Noah was freaking out because there was a voice that came over the intercom that said, "There is a potential emergency, please evacuate." They immediately get the kids (Noah and two others) into the elevators and go up to ground level. As they exit the elevators all they see are people running frantically and police men yelling at everyone to get out. Beginning to panic slightly, and thinking that it just might be possible that the second brother is in the building, Andy exits the elevator with Noah but the door shuts before the other two kids can get out. Andy and Taylor frantically try to get the elevator open while Noah stands with one of the police men. Finally they all get out and come home. It was an incredibly stressful situation...but thankfully (which seems ironic) the evacuation was caused by someone burning their food on the 11th floor. Don't they feel like a genius? Impeccable timing.
Shortly after that the governor lifted the lock down even thought hey still didn't have the second brother in custody. One man in Watertown, and his wife, went out to sit on their back porch. As the wind picked up he noticed the tarp on his boat was loose and walked around the other side to check it. The tie cords were obviously cut and there was blood on the tarp, also a small latter leaning against the side of the boat. The man then lifted back the tarp (which is nuts if you ask me) where he saw a pool of blood with a bloody person lying in it. He thought the person was dead until he saw them move, when he retreated and called the authorities. An hour or two later they captured the second brother.
I don't even know how to describe the circumstances. The whole event. I went to bed on Friday night, even knowing they had caught him, and I still felt sick. I checked my locks, my balcony and behind everything I could. It was an emotionally stressful day, but I am so grateful it ended the way it did and I am SO grateful for the law enforcement and the tireless work they devoted to finding the second brother.
The following day we had to get out. We had to enjoy Boston, because we love it! We went downtown and enjoyed the park, but felt especially safe as we walked around.....
At first it caught me off guard, but I couldn't have been more grateful for the peace of mind it gave me. I also thought about how the community really had rallied together. The city was busy and people were enjoying their freedom, we were no exception.
Even amongst all the bad that has happened this month, I couldn't be more grateful. For isn't it true what they say, to see the good in things we sometimes have to experience the bad. I know that Boston is and will be forever changed by this...changed for the good. Stronger, more aware and overall a little more grateful for the good things.
