Today was supposed to be a day of celebration: To put the finishing touches of months and, in some cases years, of training into one day. Reading back through all the posts and messages from my friends who were preparing for this race I couldn’t help but notice their excitement, nervous anticipation and pride. It wasn’t just those racing, either. It was also those of us who followed their motivational stories. When I heard about the first explosion followed by the second explosion my first reaction was to reserve judgment. It could have been a gas main. Sadly, as more information came to light, it was clearly much, much worse. My first thought and concern were for the people at the finish line: those who had just finished, were just about to finish, volunteers, and family members and friends waiting for loved ones. It happened during what was probably one of the most heavily populated times: when the middle-pack was just starting to finish. I immediately started to search for everyone I knew who was in or at the race. It wasn’t until about an hour ago that every single person was accounted for. Until that time, I searched the news and read the comments. I wish I hadn’t seen the comments. Some of them were so hateful, and it started so soon after the first news accounts were delivered. Many of them were lamenting the lack of humanity, but its not humanity that you don’t see at events such as this. Humanity are the people who’ve dropped everything to provide blankets and comfort to the runners who expected to be greeted at the finish line by cheers and medals and space blankets and fruit and smiling faces. Humanity are the people who’ve opened their homes to those who checked out of their hotel expecting to go home after collecting their finisher medal. Humanity are the people who took the afternoon off to offer blood, comfort, and medical aid. Humanity are the first responders who ran towards the chaos to protect and rescue the frightened, bleeding, dying, and newly dismembered. What’s INhuman is the “cause” that’s behind this atrocity. What’s INhuman are the people who have already created fake charities to steal money intended for the victims. Spread the word to your friends to give to NO charities except Red Cross until they’ve been verified as legitimate.
Finally, I want to say thank you to everyone who called and texted and sent messages to Lou and me inquiring of our safety. It is times such as this when we truly know how much and how well we are loved.