Earlier this week I kicked off my fall conference season with a legal conference in Boston. I had signed up for a “5K Fun Run” Monday morning, but didn’t realize that it was going to be a running tour of the city, put on by Run Boston. It was a great way to start the day, see the city, and meet other people who didn’t let the late-night bourbon tasting the night before get in the way of a 6:00 am run.
Near the end of our tour, we ran past the finish line for the Boston Marathon. Several of us stopped to take pictures, and I know I’m not the only one who was thinking about the people who were hurt and killed earlier this year.
A few hours later I was sitting in the first conference session, when my phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number, but it was my husband. He said something like:
There’s been a shooting at work. We’re on lockdown. I’m OK.
I don’t have my phone.
I thanked him for calling me, hung up, and tried to process what he had said. I scanned Twitter for news, and saw tweets from individuals and news organizations about a shooting at the Navy Yard. I texted my kids and emailed my in-laws so they wouldn’t be frantic when they heard the news.
For the next few hours I alternated making an appearance at the conference with hiding out in my room to watch CNN. When I realized it was still an ongoing situation, I was nervous, but I held onto those words from my husband, I’m OK.
While I was attending the conference lunch, the news escalated from three people injured to twelve people dead. Although I was seated at one of the head tables, I have no idea what the keynote speaker said. I told my colleagues what was going on, and decided that I had to get home. Even assuming my husband still was safe, I knew that if I had to endure such a stressful situation I would want to be with him at the end of the day.
It was about 1:30 when I went back up to my room, called the travel agent, and packed. I checked out, got in a taxi, and was at the ticket counter by 2:30. I asked the agent if I could get on the 4:00 pm shuttle, and she said that since I wasn’t checking a bag I could make the 3:00 pm shuttle–it would begin boarding in 2 minutes!
As I was getting on the plane, my husband called again from another borrowed phone–the first time I’d heard from him since his first call at about 8:45 am. He said the lockdown was being lifted, but it would still be a while before he could get home. I told him I was getting on a plane….
The MRE he was given about 5 hours into lockdown.
He drank the water and ate the cookies, but some people did “cook” and eat the entree.
When I landed in DC, the taxi line was the longest I’ve ever seen it. After a long wait, it was almost my turn when my husband called again from yet another phone–he was on the Metro and had just passed the airport! I told him that I would have my taxi stop at one of the next Metro stations to pick him up, and that’s what we did. We were home, together, by 6:00 pm.
I am grateful that my husband is OK–although I feel selfish and self-centered saying that, because there are 12 families who can’t.
I am grateful that so many things came together so smoothly to get me home quickly–and with perfect timing to help my husband get home.
I am grateful for the many friends who checked up on us throughout the day, by email, text, Facebook and Twitter.
As I reflect on the day, I am struck by how I started the day thinking of the people impacted by the senseless violence of the Boston Marathon bombings, and ended the day in the midst of yet another “breaking news” story.
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Hello Coco, Thank you for sharing this story and I’m so happy for you that everything was ok and it all came together at the end of the day.
As a military spouse, I completely understand how overwhelming it all must have felt and how it important it was to get home to be with your loved ones. Although, in the past couple of years, I’ve had to learn to push through the grueling anxieties of “not knowing” because it is impossible to actually “do anything about it” when there is word of an “incident” downrange. It’s definitely one of the worst feelings on earth but you eventually go on autopilot – working, eating, running…etc….until you get that call and know that he is safe. Then you realize that you’ve been holding your breath the whole time (maybe for days because all communication stops in an information blackout when there is casualty/deaths).
Jean, it would be so hard to live with that every day, or on a regular basis. I am good at compartmentalizing, but it does take its toll! I am grateful to your you and your husband for his service!
I know the 1950s werent all we romanticize them to be…but … Im still romanticizing 🙂
whats HAPPENING in the 2013?!
Ugh, thanks for sharing this…I grew up right outside of the Hopkinton starting line and the Marathon has always been so close to my heart. I hate hearing about all of the ways the tragedy in 2013 affected people throughout the country, but I love seeing all of the gratitude that you feel.
I’m sure there aren’t really adequate words to express the range of emotions of that day. I’m so glad he’s okay and that you were able to get home so quickly. I was just thinking about you guys this morning and realized that my day passed in such a blur yesterday and I didn’t tell you that I was thinking about you both.
Thank you so much for your support, Carrie! xxooxx
So happy to hear your husband is okay. Will never understand what is up with all this violence. 🙁
I don’t have any answers and I am afraid that we will give up looking for them and just get used it as a part of “life.”
Oh that is so scary. I’m really sorry! What a stressful day. I’m glad your husband was able to get a message to you and that he was OK!!!!!!!! But waiting all day and not being nearby had to be stressful.
Where I work it’s a very valid chance that something like that could happen. I have a plan on how to get out of the building just in case…and it’s something that is often on my mind when certain clients start to get agitated.
Ugh! That would be hard to face on a regular basis, but having a plan is a good way to cope — and protect yourself.
Oh my goodness – I’m so sorry that you, your husband and so many others had to live through so much stress!!! I’m glad that when you made the decision to head home that everything worked out OK with the flight, shuttle and taxi and hooking up with your husband at the metro!
Prayers being said for the families who lost loved ones!!!
Thank you. I really appreciate your kind words!
Oh my, wow, I’m late to reading this. Sorry to read, what a scare! Very glad your family is okay.
Thanks. It will be a long road ahead for my husband’s office ….
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