Remember with kindness

On the eve of the 2nd anniversary of the Boston Marathon tragedy, there's a lot to think about.  My thoughts first turn to the families of those lost that awful day -- to Martin, Krystle, Lingzi lu and Sean, and to those who were injured, too numerous to name individually.   Two years doesn't take away the survivors' or the families' pain, or make the grief any easier.  It has become part of their lives that they've grown more accustomed to, because they have to.

Tomorrow has been declared OneBoston Day -- a time to remember and to honor with acts of kindness.  Remember Martin Richard's plea -- Peace: No more hurting people.  Use it as a reminder to be kind and considerate.

Use it as a way to honor an innocent young boy who had a simple but important wish, and all those who were affected.  Over the last two years I've gotten to know some of those who were intensely affected by the horrific choices those two brothers made on a day that is typically full of excitement, hope, anticipation and community.  Each of those whom I met define the word resilient.  They exemplify compassion.  The families of the four who died have displayed amazing strength and have inspired our community, our Commonwealth, and beyond.  What better way to support them than with a day of kindness that will hopefully continue on.  Don't stop with just one day.  Make it infectious.

These past five-plus weeks in court brought back all the hurt two terrorists caused, and remind us that the families and survivors deal with the affects of that day on a daily basis.  A continuous wave of kindness can do wonders in helping them cope.

The verdict doesn't mean closure for them -- it may just add another piece to the puzzle that will never be completed. But closure hardly exists when life will never be as it was.

Immediately after the verdict was announced, discussions began about the fate of the younger terrorist. People wondered aloud what the families and the injured want to see happen to him.  I am quite certain that they have different opinions, and various reasons for feeling the way they do.  I wonder along with the rest of you what their thoughts are, but I understand their desire to keep it to themselves.

The day the verdicts were read brought me back to the day Osama bin Laden was killed.  I felt for those affected by the Marathon Bombing the same thing I remember feeling on May 2, 2011.  No joy, no elation, no reason to celebrate, even as people poured out onto the streets in triumph over the death of the most feared terrorist in the country, as if one of our beloved teams had just won the championship. For my family, we felt relief that at last the most monstrous of the monsters was no longer of this earth, never to cause harm to us again.  But we didn't celebrate.  I cried.  I cried so hard I shook as my sister 3000 miles away tried to calm me down.  I've never known why I had that reaction and I've given up trying to understand it.  Another puzzle piece had been placed in the never-to-be-completed puzzle.

But my then teen-age daughter said it best.  She couldn't sleep thinking about it.  She was only 7 when ObL and his terrorist cohorts took her dad from her in such a violent and hateful way.  She sat in her bed at 2 a.m. and said "I think it's great that they got Osama bin Laden, but nothing really changes for us, does it mom?  Dad still isn't here."  Now nearly 14 years later, my kids have each lived without their dad longer than they had him in their lives, and their memories of him continue to grow more distant. And we continue to miss him every day.

I am not speaking for them, but it's likely the families of the Marathon attack feel like my daughter did. One of their attackers is dead; his younger brother in prison, where he will die a natural death, or be convicted of the death penalty.  Either way, he is out of society, unable to cause harm again.  Either way, the families of those who were killed will continue to grieve the loss of their beloved Martin, Krystle, Lingzi lu and Sean.

Either way Officer Dic continues to feel the affects of nearly bleeding to death after being shot in Watertown during the surreal chase to capture the heartless terrorists.  And either way, all the limbs lost and other injuries suffered continue to be a challenge for more than 260 individuals whose lives have been changed forever.  Whether the younger punk thug terrorist is put to death (which will take years after an appeal) or confined in a solitary cell in a super-max prison, nothing can take these individuals and families back to their lives as they were the morning of April 15.

God bless them.  And remember, be kind.  Peace -- No more hurting people.