Last weekend we took Cassidy to see the Harlem Globetrotters at the Boston Garden. We decided to take the train in. I insisted on it saying it will be fun, but really I was just trying to avoid driving in with all the emotions it would bring. So we rode the train and as it pulled into North Station, we pass "The Blue Building".
On our rides into the Clinic or the Hospital alongside 93/Storrow Drive is the Giant Building painted bright Blue for the trains. Alec noticed it one time and never forgot it. He loved it. Alec always knew when we were about to pass The Blue Building. And he would say, "Is that the Blue Building?" Sometimes he would ask a bit before we got to it and we'd say not yet. And then like clockwork as we got to it he would say, "Is that The Blue Building?" and we'd say yup that's the blue building. Sometimes If he was preoccupied with his singing snowman or bunny we'd have to tell him to look and he instantly knew where we were and he instantly said,"Is that the Blue Building". It was one of his many things that he needed and loved as his routine.
I realized as we passed it on the train and Keith said to Cassidy look it's the Blue Building, and we all smile but ache inside that taking the train did not make it any easier for us. It's always hard to do things because we miss Alec with everything we do, though we want to enjoy Cassidy and we want her to have fun and we do the best we can. It's not easy and we all are lost and this day at the Globetrotters was just another one of those times. The crowds, the families just enjoying being there, the terrible overpriced food and we couldn't see anything beacause we were in the first row on the corner. But we all felt Al when we we were seated in seats # 1,2 , 3.
There were a few moments that we enjoyed and we were sticking it out for Cass though I think she was sticking it out too.
As we were riding the escalator down, there was a boy in front of us riding it by himself he was about 8 ish, he wore glasses (his Dad was walking down the steps beside him). This boy was loving his escalator ride he had his arms up and was in the moment and when he got to the end he just let his feet roll off the end. It was so painful and so sweet to watch at the same time, this boy reminded me of Alec and his love for escalators and how he'd just roll off the escalator at the end.
.After the show we had to wait an hour for the train. oh boy, what were we going to do for an hour? I say whose idea was it to take the train (but it was mostly mine). We were all cranky, and we agree that we just want to get home to our couch where we belong.
Cassidy had wanted to buy twizzlers at the Garden, umm $4.00 for a regular pack of twizzlers, I don't think so. So we walked across the street to 7-eleven. As we walk in there is a man sitting in front with his cup out for money, he says Hi and God bless you to us. We walk in to the candy aisle and I say I am going to buy that man a candy bar. Keith has been against giving money to those who beg because he figures they will just use it to buy drugs or alcohol and that is not helping them. I agree with him to an extent but I remember having the feeling that one of these people could be Jesus in disguise and did not want to pass by Jesus. So I gave.
Anyway we are in the candy aisle trying to figure out what kind of candy bar to get him, Keith says get him a Snickers, I say I'll just give him a dollar. But Cass insists we get him candy, she is excited to do something nice for him. Cassidy ends up buying it with her money. I go to put the Snickers in his cup and he takes it in his hand and he is so excited and grateful He says, "You got me a candy bar? I'm going to eat it right now" and opens it and starts eating it. I then put all the change that was in my wallet in his cup. Even though I figure Keith may be upset with me. Then I see Keith put money in his cup too. I am moved by this and I know Keith is moved to be kind to this man.
As we walk away the man says God Bless your family and then he says Thank you to me and gives me a thumbs up. My eyes fill and I give him a thumbs up back. All it took was a candy bar to make this guys day. Honestly he was more grateful for that than the money we gave.
So it turned our day around, and we realized that had we not taken the train, then we would not have had that moment with that man.
It was a special moment that has stayed with us.
On our rides into the Clinic or the Hospital alongside 93/Storrow Drive is the Giant Building painted bright Blue for the trains. Alec noticed it one time and never forgot it. He loved it. Alec always knew when we were about to pass The Blue Building. And he would say, "Is that the Blue Building?" Sometimes he would ask a bit before we got to it and we'd say not yet. And then like clockwork as we got to it he would say, "Is that The Blue Building?" and we'd say yup that's the blue building. Sometimes If he was preoccupied with his singing snowman or bunny we'd have to tell him to look and he instantly knew where we were and he instantly said,"Is that the Blue Building". It was one of his many things that he needed and loved as his routine.
I realized as we passed it on the train and Keith said to Cassidy look it's the Blue Building, and we all smile but ache inside that taking the train did not make it any easier for us. It's always hard to do things because we miss Alec with everything we do, though we want to enjoy Cassidy and we want her to have fun and we do the best we can. It's not easy and we all are lost and this day at the Globetrotters was just another one of those times. The crowds, the families just enjoying being there, the terrible overpriced food and we couldn't see anything beacause we were in the first row on the corner. But we all felt Al when we we were seated in seats # 1,2 , 3.
There were a few moments that we enjoyed and we were sticking it out for Cass though I think she was sticking it out too.
As we were riding the escalator down, there was a boy in front of us riding it by himself he was about 8 ish, he wore glasses (his Dad was walking down the steps beside him). This boy was loving his escalator ride he had his arms up and was in the moment and when he got to the end he just let his feet roll off the end. It was so painful and so sweet to watch at the same time, this boy reminded me of Alec and his love for escalators and how he'd just roll off the escalator at the end.
.After the show we had to wait an hour for the train. oh boy, what were we going to do for an hour? I say whose idea was it to take the train (but it was mostly mine). We were all cranky, and we agree that we just want to get home to our couch where we belong.
Cassidy had wanted to buy twizzlers at the Garden, umm $4.00 for a regular pack of twizzlers, I don't think so. So we walked across the street to 7-eleven. As we walk in there is a man sitting in front with his cup out for money, he says Hi and God bless you to us. We walk in to the candy aisle and I say I am going to buy that man a candy bar. Keith has been against giving money to those who beg because he figures they will just use it to buy drugs or alcohol and that is not helping them. I agree with him to an extent but I remember having the feeling that one of these people could be Jesus in disguise and did not want to pass by Jesus. So I gave.
Anyway we are in the candy aisle trying to figure out what kind of candy bar to get him, Keith says get him a Snickers, I say I'll just give him a dollar. But Cass insists we get him candy, she is excited to do something nice for him. Cassidy ends up buying it with her money. I go to put the Snickers in his cup and he takes it in his hand and he is so excited and grateful He says, "You got me a candy bar? I'm going to eat it right now" and opens it and starts eating it. I then put all the change that was in my wallet in his cup. Even though I figure Keith may be upset with me. Then I see Keith put money in his cup too. I am moved by this and I know Keith is moved to be kind to this man.
As we walk away the man says God Bless your family and then he says Thank you to me and gives me a thumbs up. My eyes fill and I give him a thumbs up back. All it took was a candy bar to make this guys day. Honestly he was more grateful for that than the money we gave.
So it turned our day around, and we realized that had we not taken the train, then we would not have had that moment with that man.
It was a special moment that has stayed with us.
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