Healing and Oysters

I originally thought about coming here for healing during the marathon weekend I am so happy I did not and instead came back to do the Dana Farber 5k cancer walk. I am so grateful for this opportunity.

I took a walk today walking back towards where I was standing when that first explosion happened. I am struck by what is not here and that is a good thing. Life is moving on this city is moving forward. There is construction all over the Back Bay(where the finish line and my hotel is located).

I could not locate exactly where I was that day. I have an idea but honestly this all feels different and that is such a good thing!! I came to the intersection before Hereford St and I decided to stop. This was a quest I did not need to complete. Somewhere down the road I was standing, it no longer feels important.  I stood at the intersection of Gloucester and Boylston turning in a circle trying to decide what to do. I had walked the opposite side of the street from where the bomb went off as I was not quite ready to go over there.  Not yet..

I saw a wooden sign that said Select Oyster House.

Well I love me some Oysters so why not!! I was greeted by a lovely woman who gave me the option of outside or In. I went out. It was the quaintest little balcony in an alley with art work decorating the brick of the building across the way.

This was the perfect place for me to relax and soak in the fact I was back in Boston and doing what I love to do on a trip eating and drinking!! I started with a wonderful cocktail The Sugar Shack Daiquiri a mix of Privateer Rum, Plantation Rum, lime and maple.

Breathing deeply I could start to feel my shoulders relax. It was helped by the amazing service of Nikki. Thats what the receipt said her name was. I hope that was it because she should get credit for just being super wonderful. Telling me I made the right choice when I ordered the Scallop Ceviche, a delectable sour citrusy combination of shallots and red pepper vinaigrette with some amazing fresh scallops.

By the time the oysters arrived I was ready to put everything having to do with The Marathon behind me. The taste of the salt from the sea was sweet the opposite of the sour of the scallop ceviche. Thru a little liquid courage and a wonderful meal I was ready to walk back on the other side of the street.

It was time to walk past where the second bomb went off.  The freshness I was feeling was only momentarily lost as I walked past the site where a young life was taken. The Restaurant that was The Forum is now closed. Maybe there is no way for a restaurant or any business to weather that type of storm. Starting fresh may be the only way.

This whole area has changed over the last two years. I have re-written this part of the post several times because this was the most emotional I have been on this Journey The reality is fresh and new is a way of life for Boston. The bitterness of the vinegar on the scallops is sour much  like standing in this space staring at what was. But than the sweetness of the Oysters comes thru as does the sweetness of life. No matter how great the loss and the loss here was great  a city was wounded and countless people were effected yet life keeps rolling in just like the ocean waves keep crashing against the shore. Other than an empty store front there is a small memento, blue and yellow pipe cleaners in the shape of a star attached to the string of a post holding a new tree up at the place the Backpack was left.

The sour and sweet of life all in one place. Martin Richard the young boy taken way to soon had made a sign for a school project before he lost his life the sign read

“No more hurting people , Peace”

It seems like the best way to move on remember his words, remember there is always sour and sweet in life just like in a bowl of scallops and a plate of oysters and remember life keeps moving just like the sea.