Today I made the trek to Palm Springs for a weekend of fun at Coachella. Trying to take my mind off of the tragic week our country has endured. On our drive I saw a convoy of military vehicles. There was about a dozen of them. My heart swelled. I immediately wanted to stop them and hug and thank each of the individuals in those vehicles. We live in an amazing country, where men and women volunteer their lives to a service, a service of keeping us safe. This week the bombings in Boston gave us just a taste of what other countries live on a daily basis. Those same men and women who protect us found and captured the man that is responsible for this weeks tragedy. From military to police, from fire fighters to EMT’s, these men and women have more heart than we can imagine. A little drive to the desert gave me perspective to just how lucky we are to live here. We go to bed each night and can feel safe because we know someone always has out back.

It has been a beyond devastating week for so many. The Boston Bombing, the explosion in Texas, the defeat that the families from Sandy Hook have felt, and so many people I know dealing with health issues or the loss of someone they love. It seems that some weeks, no matter where you turn there seems to be more tragic news. There is something to be said about tragedy and the way it brings people together, the way strangers become heroes, the way a community becomes a family, and the good you find in the wake of it all. The reality check that we are only given one chance at this thing called life and what we do with it grows more important as every day passes. If we can be taught anything from all of this, it should be that who you are and what you give to the world is beyond important. Life is short and many of us take our time here for granted, I know I have. Hug more, laugh more, give more, and never be afraid to say I love you because you never know when that chance will be taken away. I have become so inspired by the stories of all the heroes made of ordinary people and first responders that just stepped up and did what had to be done, without question, without thinking of themselves. Everyday heroes. We all have heroes inside us waiting to shine.

Boston – a town I love that has a very special place in my heart. A place that I went with family and friends, and even on occasional school field trips.

Copley Square a place where my parents would take me to eat amazing food and sometimes even go shopping.

 A city that brought me so many firsts: my first hockey game,  my first taste of fashion, throwing out a first pitch at a Red Sox game, meeting old friends traveling through town, and my first television job.

 Fenway Park a place that I had dreams about, shot my first commercial for a motorcycle show, eventually had the honor of working at and a place where my name can be found signed inside the scoreboard with baseball hall of famers.

 A city I freely walked and took in all the history as often as I could. A city that has passion that you could feel through the pavement, where at any given moment a stranger would stop and talk sports with you.

I remember my first Patriots’ Day spent in good old Beantown. It was 2004 and I had the greatest job ever, I was a co-host on the NESN Pre-game report for the Boston Red Sox. A team that I lived for, a year I would never forget. Patriots’ day is one of the busiest days in Boston. They say the marathon brings in over 20,000 runners now add that to all the spectators, tourists and sports fans. The Boston Red Sox have played a home game on Patriots’ Day every year for as long as I can remember. The city was busy and I was happy to be at work, it was my very first player interview and it was because not only did he have a big game ahead but so did his wife because she was running in the Boston Marathon.

Today I turned on the TV and I was broken hearted at the sights I saw. Explosions at the finish line of the marathon, around 4 hours into the race, which is said to be the busiest time at the finish line. All day I had to fight back tears, the city that I loved so much had been turned into a war zone. I found it hard to talk or think about anything. The constant question of why, state of shock, confusion and sadness weighed so heavy on my heart. I stayed glued to the TV and social media, to keep up to date on the news and check on family and friends. The new images popping up each making my heart hurt a bit worse. The news of lives lost and so many injured. Thinking about the hundreds of people who went out to see a race and their lives are forever changed, the families and friends searching all day for answers. My head has been spinning non-stop I am completely consumed. Throughout all of this tragedy, these violent images, the hurt and the sorrow I also saw something that made my heart fill with joy. I saw heroes. While watching the news coverage I saw heroes running towards the explosions to help the wounded. I saw heroes in first responders who never could have imagined what the day would bring. I saw heroes in people who shared stories. I saw heroes in people that were tweeting and facebooking links to help families find each other and where to donate blood. I saw heroes offering homes and places to stay for runners that had nowhere to go. I even saw heroes on twitter trying to deliver pizzas to anyone who needed food tonight. Heroes came together today to fight back for the greater good and for Boston.

What happened today is horrific; it is a day that we will never forget. Like New York City, Sandy Hook, Columbine, and countless others Boston is Resilient, Passionate, and by standing together, will get through this. Boston has so much fight in it, today we saw that fight. Whoever is responsible will be found and punished, but what matters most right now is the love and passion that Boston showed today, the fight to get through, the good in people to help out, the heroes, and the healing.

Boston is strong, it showed us today just how strong and they will continue to be strong for the lives lost, the countless injured and everyone affected by this horrible tragedy, because if Boston has anything it sure has heart.

The Oscars are coming, and while the world is dissecting the dresses on the red carpet I will be searching for a glimpse of the shoes hiding under them! Happy Oscar Sunday, may the dresses be fabulous and the heels be spectacular !

That thin line between love and hate, was made by a six inch stiletto.