Four streets down

Our company on Mount Auburn Street closed yesterday as it was four streets down from where the second Marathon bomber was finally captured in Watertown - ironically, hiding in a boat.  If it weren't for an observant homeowner, who peeked inside and discovered him in there, the manhunt would have been continued into a nationwide dragnet (insert DUM BA DUM DUM).

I can't praise the police and law enforcement enough.  They did an outstanding job, nothing like I've ever seen before...everyone across the state, in various vehicles, some regular, others heavily armored, looking for someone heavily armed and extremely dangerous.  The police were disappointed they couldn't catch their man at 6:30, but about forty-five minutes later, a vigilant homeowner who had just been released from lockdown took a look around his boat and instantly changed fate.  I listened to the radio exchange between police and it was more riveting than the news.  Then, at 8:43pm, it was all over.  They got their man.

Critics will ask why a lockdown of the entire city of Boston was necessary (although it seemed like it was business as usual in West Roxbury, albeit with no bus service).  One, the lockdown prevented the curious from wandering down and interfering with police investigation.  Conversely, it made law enforcement's investigation tons easier without a giant media and bystander circus.  Two, the bomber was armed and extremely dangerous; the Cambridge police discovered the bombers weren't going to be satisfied with just bombing the Marathon, but were planning a final bigger act; pressure cooker bombs, pipe bombs, and other weapons were found in the apartment.  Third, if the bomber decided to take hostages and wasn't going to surrender, that would have been far worse.

I took it in stride.  I did my laundry, paid my bills, had lunch, and just rode it out.  I wasn't in harm's way; but when they captured the guy, I felt relieved it was over.