Elvis Aaron Schwarz called me Monday afternoon. Are you all right? he asked.
Yes, I said. Why wouldn't I be?
Have you seen the news? he asked.
No, I said.
Something bad has happened in Boston, he said.
I'd rather hear it from you than from the TV, I said.
Then he explained to me that bombs had exploded and people were killed and injured.
I know how you get, he said. I didn't want you to find out about this from the news, he said.
I promise I won't turn on the TV, I said.
And I didn't.
Elvis Aaron Schwarz knew I would cry if I watched the news.
I knew all my tears wouldn't change what happened.
So now I know, and I'm sad; but I'd still rather hear the truth from Elvis Aaron Schwarz than from a stranger on the television. It's a little easier to handle bad news when you hear it from your best friend, who only wants good things for you.
Thank you, Elvis Aaron Schwarz.
 |
| You're welcome, Baby Doll. |
Janie Junebug
Good idea. I watched on day one. I didn't watch at all yesterday. I read about it, though. One marathon finisher was totally disgusted at how the media was covering the bombings...flashing images and using total panic in their delivery. I feel sorry for the injured people who kept appearing over and over again.
ReplyDeleteEAS told me last night that the news coverage was similar to the coverage at the elementary school, with all sorts of misinformation disseminated and then proven wrong. Hearing stuff that isn't true just makes it all worse.
DeleteWhat a sweet man!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got to hear it from him, too. It is still so surreal.
ReplyDeleteIt is surreal. 9/11 wasn't. I don't know why I see the two events differently.
DeleteElvis Schwarz is so kind.
ReplyDeleteAnd so easy on the eyes.
DeleteI couldn't watch--it was devastating!!
ReplyDeleteWhy watch? The broadcasts are filled with misinformation that upsets us even more than we already are.
DeleteElvis is such a sensitive guy. I'm glad he broke the news to you gently.
ReplyDeleteI think he is the most sensitive man I've ever known. He really makes an effort to understand me.
DeleteSuch a handsome nice guy!
ReplyDeleteHe is as handsome as he is kind.
DeleteThere is no good way to hear bad news. It is just bad news and hard to take no matter what. The real sad thing is the Dems using it as a political tool.
ReplyDeleteYou're right: It's bad news no matter what. But I'd rather find out from EAS than listen to all the misinformation on the news.
DeleteBut doesn't he get the same misinformation you would have received to tell you?
DeleteHe only told me the basics. He heard the misinformation but didn't tell me about it till it had been proven wrong.
DeleteSo sweet.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, the rest of the country is getting it in updates... we are getting it non stop. EVERYWHERE we look there it is, same news over and over, on one big continuous loop. Tony, the news junkie he is, turned on the TV as soon as he got home last night and there it was... on ESPN. ON every frigging channel. Even he couldn't argue when I said, "Please. No more."
It is horribly sad, but what's worse is that EVERY friend I have that has moved away is trying to show solidarity by posting EVERY LITTLE THING on FB. So even my FB feed is littered with hundreds of links and pictures.
Enough already.
I will pray for those hurt, gone and still fighting. But for the love of GAWD, no one can heal if the band aid continues to be ripped off by the media.
Boston is strong.
Boston WILL run again.
This time though, without trash cans and back packs.
Sorry. I'm done with my rant. Us Bostonians are like that.
You don't need to say you're sorry. You can always say anything you want here in Dogtown. I'm glad I only get local channels now. I can't accidentally turn on one of the 24 hour news channels.
DeleteSadly, Janie... if you lived here you couldn't avoid it. Right now I'm stuck on HGTV (not that I mind so much HELLO property brothers, YUM!) because every basic station is now fixated on the bomb threat at the court house. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteI DO care, honest... but I'm on vacation and I just want to watch mindless TV and listen to the radio.
I understand that it's unavoidable for you. The TV stations need to take a break and show regular programming instead of repeating speculation over and over.
DeleteAn act of kindness amongst the midst of inhumanity, surely softens the blow.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes.
DeleteI think no matter how you heard that news, it would be heartbreaking. He sounds incredibly kind.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was still upsetting, but it was better than watching the news.
DeleteI don't watch the news any more if I can help it. I overheard the mail lady talking to somebody else about the bombings. I have people who let me know if the news I'm missing is big. Trouble is, I'm rubbing off on a couple of them and they aren't watching anymore, either. ;)
ReplyDeleteSometimes The Hurricane tells me what's happening out in the big wide world. She emailed me when Osama Bin Laden was killed, and she actually called when the new pope was chosen. She wanted to have a rousing discussion about the new pope and didn't know anyone else she could count on to discuss him with her.
Delete