Thank you

Thank you, Boston Police Department.

The fact that you were able to locate two monsters … sorry, SUSPECTS … less than a week after the bombings is truly astounding. As someone who has had to sift through mountains of evidence for trial, I can appreciate the seemingly insurmountable task of compiling all of the video, photos, witness reports, hard evidence from the crime scene, etc, and narrow it down as quickly as possible.

I am sure this week you have missed not only hours of sleep, but ballet recitals, little league games, and anniversary dinners while working around-the-clock.

Your profession may sometimes be maligned by popular culture, which is something I am intimately familiar with; but just like most attorneys are hard-working good people, in my experience, so are most law enforcement professionals. You work HARD to keep people safe. While the rest of us are refreshing our twitter feeds from the comfort of our own homes, coffee mugs in hand, you are standing in the cold street, strapped into a flack jacket.

Thank you, for restoring my faith in our public safety, and for all that you sacrifice for your jobs.

Shattered

My cousin crossed the finish line at the marathon five minutes before the bombs went off, where my family waited to cheer her on. Another younger cousin was one academic building away at Virginia Tech, my alma mater, and cowering under a desk while the shooter was stalking students with a gun, six years ago today (one might conclude that being related to me is dangerous business). When I got engaged, we celebrated on the top floor of the World Trade Center, one year before the towers fell. Each attack felt personal. There by the grace of God go I.

My heart hurts this morning, as does my head since I had CNN on until 2 a.m. I tried to shield Ethan from some of the news coverage but he had heard about the bombings. “Did someone do that on purpose?” As a parent, what do you do? Do you lie and tell him that it was an accident, nothing to worry about? Or do you embrace the horrible truth that our world is a scary unpredictable place where the most ordinary day can be shattered by violence and mayhem in a split second?

He’s ten, and mature, so I opted for a short version of the truth.

“Yes, it appears at though someone did this on purpose. But the doctors are working hard to help all the people that got hurt. And the police are working hard to search for the criminal to keep people safe. I know it’s a scary thing. Do you have any questions? Do you want to talk about what happened?”

He thought for a moment.

“Jessica and Uncle C and Aunt B are ok?”

“Yes, they are fine.”

He nodded.

“So, what place did Jessica come in during the race? Next time we go up there can I try on her medal? Did she win? It’s awesome she can run that far.”

Yes. It’s awesome. Today I embrace the awesome – my relatives that are safe, those people that can run 26 plus miles (wow), those that ran toward the danger to help out the injured, those that gave blood, the doctors, nurses, cops, FBI, that have been working around-the-clock since this occurred. And my child, who in the light of horrific tragedy, still wants to know who won the race and whether he can try on the medal. Innocence tarnished, but not lost.

Wishing all my friends a gentle day.

Domestic Goddess

How to Spring Clean: 

1) Throw in load of laundry. Ponder how one small child can get everything so dirty. Is there a pair of school pants without mud stains? 

2) Start dishes. Cat breaks three mugs by pushing them off counter. And a vase. Get dustpan/broom. Put down to Google SPCA pick-up. 

3) Dog eating broom. Google extra fee for two pet pick-up? 

4) Cut finger on vase glass. Look for band-aid. Have surgical tape, eye patch, cool burn ointment, Epi-pens -- out of band-aids. Add to shopping list. Wrap finger with clear tape. 

5) Cat in clean laundry basket. Dog pulling dirty laundry out of hamper, eating E's baseball pants. 

6) Open window. Sneeze. Close window. Take Claritin. 

7) Claritin makes me sleepy. Try to make coffee. Favorite mugs broken. Go out for coffee. 

8) While out dog throws up parts of broom and something .... else? Further investigation determines is E's baseball "cup" from sports bag. Not the drinking kind. 

9) Google "cruises to Bermuda no pets leave March." 

10) Call cleaning service. Ask if they can come yesterday. Offer $20 extra plus bonus pet of their choice for kids' Easter basket. 

 11) "MOM! I accidentally flushed a golf ball down the toilet!" 

12) Start packing for cruise. Tell no one.