Why I’m proud to be a Bostonian
Apr 16, 2013, 8:34 PM
I was born not too far from Boston.
I’ve spend a lot of time in the city. I went to college there and I still call it home, even though I haven’t lived there in over 10 years.
Boston is a special city, a special city with great traditions and a great history. It’s a city known for its funny accents.
It’s also a city that was instrumental in laying the foundations of America. The Boston Tea Party. The Boston Massacre. The Battles of Lexington and Concord. Bunker Hill. Massachusetts is the home of John Adams, John Hancock and Paul Revere. Boston is a city that stands for freedom.
Bostonians still carry a chip on our shoulders; always will. We can’t help it. It’s in our ancestors’ blood.
We’re still the loveable losers, even though the Red Sox have won a couple World Series. We’ll always support the Sox, the Pats, the Celts and the Bs. Sometimes, even obnoxiously. Bostonians wear jerseys and hats not just because we love those teams, but because we are proud of our city. Because of what that B stands for.
In Boston we talk about Fenway. We still miss the Garden. We love the old Italian neighborhood, the North End. Bostonians are proud to have the oldest restaurant in the United States: the Union Oyster House. We’re proud the have to longest-running marathon which has been held annually since 1897. We love the USS Constitution, Harvard, MIT and the rest of the city’s colleges (shout out to the Emerson College Lions). We take the T and we love “chowda!”
Boston never leaves us. No matter where we go, whether it’s Quincy or Phoenix, and no matter how many years have passed since we called it home.
Monday’s bombings won’t deter our spirit. It will only bring us closer together. Acts of terror won’t slow down Boston. It only means we’ll take more pride routing for the Sox and the Pats. It only means the chowder will taste that much better.
And it certainly means the 118th running of the Boston Marathon will carry even more significance when Krystle Campbell, 8-year old Martin Richard and every other victim is honored.