Well, we returned to Boston yesterday for the Marathon.
Susie's brother Dick from Douglas, MA, was running for the first time in four years -- he's run something like 14 or 15 Boston Marathons over the years and knee surgery knocked him out for the past few years. But he's back in fine form as everyone discovered Monday.
Patriot's Day began slightly overcast in Providence as Susie and I headed off for the train station about 8:30 a.m. After a 30-minute walk we strolled into the station and after a wait of about 20 minutes or so boarded the commuter rail for Boston. An hour later we got off at the Back Bay station, and a quick 15-minute walk put us right about Hereford and Newbury streets, the usual spot for catching Dick as he closed in on the finish line.
Susie's brother Dick from Douglas, MA, was running for the first time in four years -- he's run something like 14 or 15 Boston Marathons over the years and knee surgery knocked him out for the past few years. But he's back in fine form as everyone discovered Monday.
Patriot's Day began slightly overcast in Providence as Susie and I headed off for the train station about 8:30 a.m. After a 30-minute walk we strolled into the station and after a wait of about 20 minutes or so boarded the commuter rail for Boston. An hour later we got off at the Back Bay station, and a quick 15-minute walk put us right about Hereford and Newbury streets, the usual spot for catching Dick as he closed in on the finish line.
It had been five years since Susie and I had a chance to see Dick run in the marathon. There is now live music, buskers really playing a variety of jazz styles along Newbury, as well as outdoor art for sale -- fairly kitschy I thought -- but still plenty of people come out for the show.
Anyway, another first was that we beat Dorothy to our rendezvous spot -- she got caught in some horrendous traffic snarls since the Red Sox were also playing as well! But she soon arrived and shortly afterwards Susie's sister Mary arrived, along with her daughter Mallory and their friend Karen.
It was a gorgeous day, the sun was out but the air had just enough coolness to it to be comfortable even out of the shade.
A little after 1 p.m. Dick rounded the turn off of Commonwealth avenue onto Hereford and I could see him with his hand in the air signaling to his fans -- he shot by me but I got a few quick snaps.
The photos are in the slide show up there; the video is right here:
Anyway, another first was that we beat Dorothy to our rendezvous spot -- she got caught in some horrendous traffic snarls since the Red Sox were also playing as well! But she soon arrived and shortly afterwards Susie's sister Mary arrived, along with her daughter Mallory and their friend Karen.
It was a gorgeous day, the sun was out but the air had just enough coolness to it to be comfortable even out of the shade.
A little after 1 p.m. Dick rounded the turn off of Commonwealth avenue onto Hereford and I could see him with his hand in the air signaling to his fans -- he shot by me but I got a few quick snaps.
The photos are in the slide show up there; the video is right here:
After we said arrivederci to Dick and Dorothy and Mary and Mallory we had some time to kill before our train so we strolled around the Boston Garden and through the Common and back again.
We were back in Providence before 5 p.m. and a stroll towards home brought us by Broadway Bistro. We thought, "hey let's stop in and have a glass of sparkling wine to celebrate the day and Dick's return to running in the Big Time." Well, the atmosphere was so inviting, the conversation with Suzanne behind the bar so engaging and the smells wafting out of the kitchen so tempting that we couldn't resist the obvious: we stayed and ate dinner.
In the twilight Susie and I strolled back to our apartment firmly convinced that it was truly grand day to be alive!
Wish you had been there,
Steve
We were back in Providence before 5 p.m. and a stroll towards home brought us by Broadway Bistro. We thought, "hey let's stop in and have a glass of sparkling wine to celebrate the day and Dick's return to running in the Big Time." Well, the atmosphere was so inviting, the conversation with Suzanne behind the bar so engaging and the smells wafting out of the kitchen so tempting that we couldn't resist the obvious: we stayed and ate dinner.
In the twilight Susie and I strolled back to our apartment firmly convinced that it was truly grand day to be alive!
Wish you had been there,
Steve
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