Boston Tragedy

[deelaundry]

Shocked and saddened by the explosions in Boston today.

Not much I can do from here but this: I am going this weekend to donate blood. If you can donate blood, please do. US blood supplies are pretty much always low; probably other countries' supplies too.

PS. No jokes about this event, please. I don't expect anyone on my friends' list to do so, but if you were thinking about it, please don't.

Comments

[taiga13]

One of TaigaSis's friends crossed the finish line maybe half an hour before it happened.

[ariadnes-string.livejournal.com]

I feel so shaken by this. Maybe because I grew up in Boston, going to watch the marathon--maybe because I've run a few road races myself recently. I keep thinking that the runners coming in a few hours after the winners were just ordinary folks who'd trained hard and were doing their best--and then they find this waiting for them. I'm sad, but that isn't even quite the word.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

That was my first thought: this wasn't aimed at prime athletes, but at ordinary people, maybe those doing the run for charity or for the first time. Tragic.

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

And the spectators.

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

I spent several hours watching the news, then collapsed and slept for over two hours. I feel so horrible for all of those runners, and the spectators anticipating seeing their loved ones crossing the finish line.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

According to the video on Boston Globe.com, at least one of the bombs went off in the middle of a spectator crowd. Right on the sidewalk. It's horrifying.

[sassyjumper.livejournal.com]

It's horrific. I just read that the youngest victim (known right now) is 3. I feel sick.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

One of the dead is an eight-year-old boy. The injured count is up to at least 125.

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

There's a tiny bit of good news -- the older guy that was in all the news film, getting knocked down by the blast wave? He's all right, and was able to walk across the finish line (http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130415/NEWS01/704159868#Lake-Steven-runner-just-feet-from-blast-in-Boston).

Edited because beginning words need capitals doh.

[elynittria.livejournal.com]

I am so glad to hear this. I was really worried about him.

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

They interviewed him tonight on ESPN SportsCenter! He said his legs went all "noodly" from the blast, but he looked at himself all over and he thought he was okay, so when a race official helped him up, he walked to the finish line. And the officials said "We've got a wheelchair for you," and he said "I don't think I need a wheelchair," and he walked SIX BLOCKS BACK TO HIS HOTEL.

I want to be him when I grow up. *g*

[srsly-yes.livejournal.com]

It doesn't seem like we can go a month without mass violence striking innocent people going about their day to day lives.

[romeo46.livejournal.com]

I heard about it on the way to work today and was pretty shocked. These bombs were set to go off when the average runners were crossing the finish line- the moms and dads and sons and daughters who had trained and saved and waited for this day.