April | 2013 | scarlettdalila

I moved to Boston, 10 years ago. Just like a lot of people, I was trying to get away from something. And all you need to do is turn on the radio to know that usually doesn’t work. Example: LA Song, by Beth Hart. “So she screamed, and she screamed, and she screamed, and she screamed it’s a different place but the same old thing.” Sing it, Beth. Apparently, I’m not the only one who tried to escape to Boston. “I think I’ll go to Boston, I think that I’m just tired. I think I need a new town, to leave this all behind.” (Boston, by Augustana) To allay your suspense, I did come to the realization to which Beth Hart alluded…. “It’s all I love, it’s all I hate it’s all too much for me to take. I can’t be sure where it begins or if the good life lies within.” Yes, Beth, if I’d have listened, you could have saved me a lot of trouble. The good life does lie within. But I tried to escape. To Boston. And just like a lot of people, I found more than I could have hoped.

I found people. And in those people, I found myself. Now, there are people everywhere. Good people. I’ve lived in different places and I’ve found good people everywhere. I’ve travelled to many different areas as well, and yes, good people are in those places too. In fact, of the people I found here in Boston, most didn’t even grow up here. But we all converged here and made it our home; our kids’ hometown. I could have gone anywhere before we decided on Boston. Should have gone anywhere with better weather. Massachusetts has a history of welcoming the weary. Perhaps there is something in the water, that dirty water, that revitalizes people who turn up on its shore, giving them the strength to find themselves and their people. But I could have ended up anywhere. (Anywhere with better weather.)

When people talk about the terrible events that took place last week, you hear the most about the people. Their bravery and courage. The helpers and those needing help. And long after the mess is cleaned up, those are the stories that will continue to amaze. The people. They weren’t all from Boston. But they are now.

This is my Boston and these are the treasures I found there….