Boylston Street, the healing has begun...

April 27th, 12 days after the horrific tragedy on Boylston Street, I went to Boston for dinner and to take in a Red Sox game, but something inside me needed to walk down Boylston Street. 

So much has happened on Boylston Street in 12 days, and the street was now open to the public.  I wanted to see the make shift Memorial that was still growing at Copley Square, but I also just felt the need to walk on the sidewalk near the site of this tragedy.

Walking from the Arlington T Stop, I could see that Boylston Street was bustling with people.  The sun was shining and it was a glorious day.  Businesses seemed to be full and parking was free, a sure way to encourage people to come shop.  Both sides of Boylston Street were active and full.

As I walked toward the Copley Square area with crowds of other people, media trucks from every Boston station were there as well.  They wanted to capture the huge outpouring of support that was needed on Boylston Street for both the businesses that had been closed and for the people who needed to visit, reflect and say a silent prayer.

The fenced in Memorial site was overflowing with bouquets of flowers, notes of hope and large amounts of visitors who paid their respect to the victims.   

I couldn't help but notice just to the side of the Memorial site was a beautiful garden of red tulips; all in full bloom!  It was a splendid sight of life and newness.  It was a brilliant and gorgeous red. 

My mind immediately went to all the photo images I had seen over these past 12 days in which the color red was quite prevalent.  Those images were of a sad and tragic red.  It was the color of hurt, pain and hate.  This red was the color of life and beauty. 

Walking a bit further down Boylston Street, I could see the beaten down image of the FINISH line on the road.  Cars were driving over it and people were using it as a cross walk....but it was there and it will stay there.  That FINISH line is part of Boylston Street.

And in that moment, in front of Marathon Sports I could see a small crowd in silence gathering there, and a few bouquets of flowers were on the sidewalk.  This is a sacred place now and everyone that walked past knew to respect that. 

Boylston Street is an iconic part of both the City of Boston and the Boston Marathon, and now it is also a place of tragedy, but the people of this area have already started to breathe new life into that street. 

By walking down Boylston Street I could feel the passion and the energy that makes this area BOSTON STRONG.  The healing has begun...