On a rather warm sunny day a good number of years ago and in fact it was decades past now sometime in the late 1970’s, I recall taking a trip to Boston with my Mother. What motivated that day’s excursion was the instance of my sister being married that very day to what is now her ex-husband far off in California.
I was in my late teens at the time and my sister had moved to Anaheim with him a year or so previously and was just now finding herself at the point of marriage. For a variety of reasons my parents were unable to attend the ceremony which had my mom understandably a bit depressed. My Dad who was a dedicated professional musician had music to perform that day and since my Mom was feeling a bit low and wanted to do something different to mark the passage in her heart, I suggested that she and I take a ride to Boston and visit the Science Museum!
As I try to recall I’m not all that sure what motivated such a choice in my mind aside from the fact I always thought of the city as a fun place to spend a day and I risked that it would give her something special to remember. So after my Dad left for his gig with his band, she and I set off on our daylong excursion to the big city!
Somewhere along the way as I drove I decided to take a side highway trip a bit over the top of the geographic map and went to Boston by way of Salem’s downtown section more because I was simply wasting some time and wanted to see the sights for a brief time. After we drove by the Salem Common and got back onto the highway, somehow I found my way to the Bay area of Boston and then proceeded to locate the streets that led to the museum.
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Apart from others in my family, I was always one who never seemed to let Boston intimidate me. I always found the city a wonderful place to visit although admittedly I always did think it was a bit of a congested center to dig your way around if you didn’t know your way! Never had I discovered so many one way streets and side alleys leading to even more side streets and alleys! Ironic really since years later I would end up working on Beacon Street right across from the State House as a human services professional!
Eventually, we found the Boston Science Museum and located a wicked parking space and made our way in to enjoy the tour!
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There aren’t a lot of those days I have carved into my memory but that day for some reason I can recall like crystal! The exhibits were of course fascinating along every hallway and room they just seemed to lead to more rooms to explore! Up to and including the Planetarium show that was always a favorite of mine and the delicious lunch that mom and I enjoyed in the museum cafeteria, we ended our visit there with a stroll along the museums river walkway that they had behind incredibly large paned glass windows overlooking Boston Bay!
I just recall the day being a wonderful and a relaxing time!
As we made our way back to the car and started our way off headed for home I decided to try my newly acquired licensed driving skills and set along the bay and to the freedom trail to gather some sights before we had to head back home on the Turnpike!
There was the Mayflower replica in the bay, the “Pru” in the distance, and then somehow we found ourselves traveling by the beautiful edge of the Charles River and saw the Esplanade which evoked memories from my mom about every 4th of July concert she ever watched on the tele!
As I think back to that entire day the memories fill me with warmth!
There is something about Boston in my mind that is just different. It goes beyond merely the energy and the history of the pace of that grand city!
There is a sense of special spirit about Boston that has always fascinated me and has always attracted my wonder! Today I know it to be a sense of pride in having such a place close by that I can say is a part of the state that I call my home!
Just recently I was relating to a nephew about how I think of Boston and how it is such an individualistic place unlike any other throughout all of America!
Boston, I said with a sense of pride, is a place and a people who are absolutely singular unlike any other!
Never disgrace yourself by saying anything negative about any of the local sports teams on pain of your own safety and security!
Never insult the north end pizza offerings or the special slices of pizza heaven that I personally adore out of Haymarket Square where by the way I still have never matched the quality of the fresh fish!
Never miss taking a chance to drive by Fenway Park when in town because you might just get a chance to take yet another pic of the Green Monster!
Of course a drive by the Boston Common and up Boylston Street, by the theater district, passing by the Library and over the cobblestone roads back to the North Church made famous by Paul Revere is a must see for any city visitor!
The list goes on and on and there is always something happening in the city that can mark your own special day!
Right now as I write these thoughts we are all awaiting the ceremonies surrounding the soon to be 118th 2014 Boston Marathon!
I recall a past year when I had a friend running in the race and I stood all that day close to the crowds impatiently awaiting his appearance crossing the finish line!
The excitement and the smiles never seemed to fade that day and you now what? No matter what the event or what the special day that is happening, there is nothing like a Boston smile and a good bit of humor and cheer to make you feel included!
Yes, the last year has been a challenging time for Boston and for the Marathon! Several souls tried to paint the image of the honored event and the city in darkness but to no effect!
Why?
The answer to that in my mind is simple!
The endless spirit that I find myself filled with when standing in my soon to be new home of Salem is the same sense of endless spirit that exists in limitless amounts in Boston!
It is a spirit that cannot be squashed and washed away by those with ulterior motives and dark schemes!
The spirit that exists in Boston truly is what makes it:
“BOSTON STRONG!”
This is no doubt one of the main reasons why I remember that day that I spent with mom in Boston so fondly in my heart!
Thank you Boston!
You are so loved and in some way for all of we who have been born and raised in the Bay State, you are in some way our home too!
All love, light, and the brightest of blessings!
Rev. WD Allan MA, C.A.G.S.
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WD Allan, WDAllan.com
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