I was not afraid nor was I alone

I haven't written in a while.  Sorry.  I've been busy.  Got a job and everything.

But I felt that I needed to say something about the request to Boston area residents to shelter in place while police looked for the second person responsible for the Marathon bombings.  I want to make one thing very clear: 

I was not afraid for my own safety at all during the day.  I was anxious about the safety of my friends who live in Watertown.  I was concerned about my neighbors who may have needed food for their children (we've all waited until the last minute to go grocery shopping - so don't judge).  But never once was I afraid that someone was going to hurt me. 

I understand that some folks really were afraid.  Forgive me if I sound unsympathetic when I say, I am really sorry for that but I felt surrounded by friends and neighbors the whole day. 

Like the majority of my neighbors, I stayed in my home.  Mainly because I was glued to the computer but also because I didn't want to be that jerk who accidentally needed emergency services when they were needed elsewhere.  Never once during the day did I feel like I was alone.  I can thank social media for that.

My friends who live in Watertown regularly posted something to Facebook or Twitter.  I thank them for relieving our anxiety about their safety, which admittedly grew as the day went on.  

My friends and neighbors on Facebook and Twitter made regular updates, posted their thoughts, concerns, fears, and some LOLcat pictures.  There were conversations.  We kept each other in check.  We calmly but forcefully addressed the occasional burst of hate speech on our feeds.  Several neighbors started organizing a community Peace Potluck to be held once this was all over (and it was held the very next day).

I really do live in a wonderful neighborhood and city.  Even when we couldn't get together, we came together as one community.  Let us continue to be one community in real life.