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Boston

4/18/2013

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The Boston marathon bombings shook our country this week.  My husband and I have been glued to the TV and reading reports (once the kids have gone to bed), probably like most people.  My youngest was home sick with an ear infection Monday and Tuesday, so I had lots of time to sit around and watch the coverage.  It is beyond terrible.  

Today we woke up to news of the West, TX plant explosion in which it seems is going to be more tragic in terms of loss of life and damage.  My husband commented that compared to the bombings, the plant explosion looks like it's going to be worse, so why does the bombing seem so much worse.  Both are tragic, without a doubt, with (last I heard) firemen and first responders missing in West, TX.

When there is a plant making things like fertilizer with dangerous chemicals, there is an inherent risk at all times that explosions and fires can happen.  People are somewhat prepared for that.  We live not far from Texas City, TX which is filled with oil refineries, and where several deadly explosions have happened.  It is sad, but it is not out of the ordinary.

Bombings, however, create a lasting fear of the unknown in people.  We are extraordinarily lucky that we live in a country where this is rare since many people in many countries live with the reality that bombings occur regularly.  Nevertheless, the fear is strong and scary because we aren't sure who or what we should be afraid of, especially in this age when large amounts of information spread quickly via social networks, internet and TV.  Much of the initial information that went viral following the bombings turned out to be incorrect or just plain false.  That's dangerous because it's nearly impossible to erase that once it's out there.  There are far too many people in this world who believe something just because it's on the internet posted by someone with a knack for persuasive writing and lack of actual facts.

The bombings have broken our sense of security and safety in attending large, fun events.  I'm sure we will all be keeping an eye out for suspicious people and backpacks and whatever events we attend in the near future.  We take for granted that we live in a generally very safe country, but this makes us think twice.  Surely I'm not the only one who has pondered 'What's next?  Will it be in my city?' with a heavy sadness.  

The biggest difference between the bombing and plant explosion, though, is that the bombings were done deliberately to hurt innocent people in a gruesome way.  The explosion, as far as we know, is just a very tragic accident.  No one expects to go to a fun, celebratory event only to have their legs blown apart or their eight year old son murdered.  

The effects of this will be long lasting, and none of us will forget just as we won't forget 9-11 or Newtown or the Oklahoma City bombing.  It is a sad time indeed, and as a parent it just breaks my heart.  I see and feel things differently now that I have kids, and it's beyond heart-wrenching when innocent children lose their lives or are disfigured.  We are no more immune or safe from something like this than little Martin Richard's family.  

The only thing I can do from way over here in Texas, just like after Newtown, is to send my prayers, donate money and do my best to spread kindness.  The people who ran toward the victims to help them when it was uncertain if more bombs were going to explode should be an uplifting model for all of us.  There is a great deal kindness and love in the world, and perhaps the best thing we can do for our children, neighbors and friends is to mimic their spirit for acts of kindness are very far reaching.
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Why I Love Starbucks

4/8/2013

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As a rule I don't like coffee.  I tried like hell in college to like it, but in the end it was just a temporary necessity.  As I relentlessly studied calculus, physics or organic chemistry at The Coffee House (yes, that was the name) in Lincoln, Nebraska I drank coffee to keep myself from collapsing into my books.  But, I never liked it despite really wanting to.

My drink of choice is a skinny hazelnut latte.  The bitter coffee flavor is buried under the milk and syrup, and I get all the benefits of the milk and coffee, which means it's kind of nutritional.  But, it's not really the drinks or the food (which is quite good) that keep me coming to the 'Bucks.

Nearly every Bucks I've visited is filled with friendly baristas and a kind of small-town atmosphere.  The regular baristas at my most frequented location know my drink and one girl used to just ask me 'hot or cold today?'.  They smile, ask how you're doing and maybe talk about some local events.  People frequently make conversation while standing around waiting for drinks.  Perhaps it's the relaxed atmosphere of people enjoying a nice warm caffeinated drink, but people chat with each other and make conversation with strangers.  It's the closest thing to sitting in some little sidewalk cafe in Italy (I know it's quite a stretch, but it's the best we've got in suburbia!).    

The other day as I was leaving with my drink and my 3 year old, a young mother with a baby in a carseat carrier was opening the door for me and meanwhile a man saw and ran over to open the door for her.  And it was only at Starbucks that I got caught several times in a 'pay it forward' line following the Newtown tragedy.  There doesn't seem to be anything else quite like a good coffee shop to bring people together.

In our fast paced, electronic age it's nice to chat with others and get to know our neighbors.  That just doesn't happen at many other places.  Despite being a huge corporation that has certainly put some smaller cofee shops out of business, they have good products, they are consistent, they have a great rewards program and they do the overall package really well.  I love to sit in Starbucks and blog, work or share a weekend breakfast with my kids.  It makes me feel like our world isn't quite so big.  
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