Ahhh . . . Boston

So to start out, I thought it good to express my thoughts about this crazy city I live in. I love it. It is beautiful and so reminds me of England. This probably sounds weird, but when I was little I used to daydream about living in other places. I moved a lot growing up so maybe this is why I did this ... I don't know. But anyway, Boston was one of the places I used to think about. I tried to picture it. I pictured red brick buildings and cobblestone streets, fireplaces and chimneys, old churches and black rod iron railings. I must say ... I was dead on! I'm good! The city itself is simply enchanting.

Now, here are some quick phrases that will give you the gist of the culture of Boston: highly skilled, albeit insane drivers, pedestrians who'll risk their lives to make it across the street a fraction of a second faster than if they just waited for the blinking little man to tell them to walk (oh, and they don't hurry across either), Dunkin Donuts on every block, Little Italy, waiting ... waiting ... waiting for the subway and busses, 100 colleges and universities - students everywhere!, ice cream at a local chain - J.P. Licks (Did you know that Massachusetts residents consume the most ice cream per capita than any other state in the union?), the combination of the blue collar Bostonian way of life vs. the transient Albert Einstein genius types, walking in what can only be described as a mole tunnel with (no joke) 6 ft. of snow on either side of the sidewalks after what we call a "Noreaster" (a.k.a. a really bad storm :)),
magical autums with the most amazing fall colors I've ever seen, apple picking, leaf peeping (basically just driving places to look at the leaves), free concerts throughout the summer, free movies outside at the Esplanade every Friday night at dusk in the summer (like on The Wedding Planner), the free 4th of July celebrations with acts like Aerosmith who perform with the Pops, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Russian bookstores, Kosher restaurants, crew on the Charles River, free sailing, etc., etc., etc.

Oh and this is indeed RED SOX NATION!!! I have been completely swept into the joy of the Red Sox. I live about a 10 min. walk from Fenway Park and I am reminded of this fact sometimes at 2am when drunk college boys walk past our apartment singing "Sweet Caroline" (off key none the less) after a game. (For those of you not familiar with this tradition, "Sweet Caroline" is played at every Red Sox game.) Ever seen Fever Pitch?! 'Tis, 'tis a wonderfully crazy city indeed.


I've lived here now for almost 4 years. That's a long time!!! I've moved 5 times in those 4 years. (Yes, I am nuts.) Now, I am dead center in the middle of the city and it's great. I walk to work (7 min. walk) and the grocery store; there are two malls about a 5 min. walk away; the Christian Science Center headquarters is across the street. It is like the "Temple Square" of the Christian Science world, and has been a nice, serene place for me to read and get away from the city sometimes. There is a huge, beautiful reflecting pool that stretches the length of the plaza. It's awesome!
I absolutely love my ward. I've been on the activities committee, institute council, compassionate service committee, and am currently the Boston city group FHE "mom". They say that friends come into your life for either a reason, a season, or a lifetime. I feel so blessed in this department. I know I've made friends here that will last a lifetime, and beyond.
Well, I think that's about it for this entry. Boston is fabulous, and I am blessed. It is because of my wonderful and supportive family that I am able to be here and to have this experience. Thanks guys! Love you!