A Heartbreaking Event at the Boston Marathon

backed up marathoners after the bomb blasts

Good Evening God!

Oh, such an unreal day! At first, a great day with Kit doing well running the Boston Marathon. I waited for him with friends at the top of Heartbreak Hill (at mile 20.5) and even ran alongside for a minute or so. I was relieved and joyful.

So, I said “good-bye” to our friends and trotted down the hill so I could catch the subway (the T) waiting at the end of the line at Boston College. I was rushing because I wanted to get to the family meeting area by the time Kit finished. I didn’t want him waiting for me cold and shivering.

On the ride back I dozed — only to be awakened by the person behind me talking about explosions and “body parts”! Body parts!? That woke me up!

Shortly afterward, the subway came to a stop and we all had to get off. The Marathon was closed. The subway was closed. They directed us to move to wait for a shuttle bus. But, two of the persons around me, Marge and Louie, decided to walk and I thought that sounded like a very good idea — so I joined them. It felt very natural to want to join forces. We walked and after a while found ourselves walking with the “stopped” marathoners. After a while, Marge found her Marine Corps husband. Then Louie, who had done past marathons, decided to run in. I kept walking.

Using a fellow stranded runner’s iPhone, Kit called — Thank You God for his being able to call — and he and I agreed to walk back separately to our hotel. Kit was only half a mile from the finish line when the bombs went off. And immediately the police stopped the runners. No one knew if more bombs were coming. And in fact, God, two more unexploded devices were found!

So, surrounded by marathoners, I trudged back into downtown Boston. Shocked. Numb. Sorrowing. But, oh, so thankful after only an hour or two to be together with Kit!