Show the city of Boston some Bermuda love

I don’t think I was that surprised to see that Boston got their man. 

There’s nothing madder than a Bostonian who’s been wronged.  I mean, you know how we drive.  Boston is one of the few towns in the northern hemisphere where people stuck in traffic will drive with their car windows down, even during the long frigid winters. While New Yorkers like to lean on their horns, Bostonians would rather treat you to a barrage of clever insults. I once hesitated for just a moment at a street light when my passenger, my own mother, muttered under her breath, “What are you waiting for? A deeper shade of green?  Move it.” 

Bostonians are fiercely loyal and protective, sometimes to a fault. I remember so well (and here, I’ll date myself) when my friends and I would meet on a Friday night for drinks at Copperfield’s, a local watering hole for college kids, and pretend not to notice the good looking boys at the bar. (Translation: Wicked cute boys at the bar.)  Don’t worry, no one was knocking themselves out to meet yours truly, but my friends were all so good looking that I usually got to talk to at least one young boy until… the Sullivan boys showed up. “Hey, is that guy bothering you?” they would ask. Is it any wonder that we couldn’t get a date? We could have done with a lot less protection!

Boston must be one of the biggest small towns in the world.  Did you go to “here university”?  Only in Boston will you hear the reply “here” when you ask a young college student where they attend school, as in “I go here”.  If you’re in Cambridge, “here” would mean Harvard or M.I.T.  Across the river “here” could be Boston University, Boston College, Northeastern, Suffolk or any number of institutions.  The place is crawling with young bright kids and former students, who decided to stay, marry and raise their families. 

Bostonians are relentless.  Witness our unfailing love of the Boston Red Soxs. Eighty-six years of unrequited love, season after season at Fenway Park (don’t go there, okay) filled with believers and then finally, victory. It wasn’t so much patience but an enduring belief that each season would be “the one”. Most fans would have given up, but the kids from Massachusetts? Not a chance.

Last Monday’s marathon should have been like all the other marathons. The crush at Hopkinton with the elite runners out front, the contenders right behind them eager to improve their times and then the real heart of the marathon, the runners who wanted to make it to the finish line to the cheers of family and friends. Many run to honour loved ones, others run to raise money for charity and some run for personal best — just to complete the Boston Marathon would be thrilling enough. Why would anyone want to hurt this peaceable city?  

The Boston Marathon isn’t a symbol of capitalism or politics.  If anything it has always been a worldwide symbol of the collegiality of long distance runners —not policy makers. For the rest of us mere mortals, it is the longest, most joyous street party. Standing shoulder to shoulder, shouting encouragement from the sidelines, handing out water and promising well deserved beers after the race, the enthusiasm for every runner is deafening.   

The oldest marathon in the world will now be known for the senseless and gruesome terrorist attack by two cowardly brothers.  Were they self-taught internet Jihadist “wannabes” or did they have help? Does it matter? They murdered an innocent little boy and three young people in their 20s on the verge of launching their dreams. In total, over 170 people were rushed to local hospitals where 13 victims have lost their limbs.  

For most victims their recovery will be long and the medical bills will be enormous, if not insurmountable. The cruel realities of lost income, a way of life and the emotional impact of the attack will surely stay with the victims for their entire lives. Boston is strong but right now, my little town could really use your help.  If you can, and I know Bermuda has had a very tough time, please think about making a donation to help the victims. Go to: www.ondfundboston.org.   

Soon, Bermuda will begin to welcome tourists from the East coast, many of whom will hail from the great Bay State of Massachusetts. They’ll be the ones wearing their Red Sox caps and sporting really bad sunburns!  Bostonians love Bermuda. Show them real Bermuda love and tell them you’re wicked glad they came.