FINISH LINE

11/13/2016

Field notes from Boston – a beautiful city, the revolutionary history of this country, some of the best seafood ever (especially clam chowder where JFK ate lunch daily), Boston Common, Beacon Hill, the Back Bay, North End, South End, and the Boston Marathon.

Races have finish lines – political, marathons, cross-country, tours. So do stories and even people. But, after the race, life goes on.

On Boylston St. in Boston, a commemorative FINISH LINE is painted across this busy, downtown route. People raced here, people died. On a spindly tree, where the killing bomb in the backpack was placed are hearts and flowers and photos. My TV vision of that day was of people helping people. Never forget.

We have a commemorative spot at my Safeway in Tucson. As I go about my ordinary life shopping for groceries, I pass by the plaque listing the people who died there. We place flowers in honor. And we will never forget. Maybe you have one of those commemorative places in your hometown.

I wonder how did we get here… where innocent people die in the streets? This is our America, carved from Revolution and based on freedom and peace. And further, what can we do about it?

In OUR TIME TO LOVE the hero experienced a violent, tragic loss and his method of dealing with it is to avoid relationships and the happy holiday season. Can love and remembering help heal his emotional wounds? Even if we move on, we will never forget. And maybe we shouldn't forget. Read this lovely story and tell me what you think. Only 99 cents for the month of December.