This is not my usual kind of blog post. I am going to talk about the Boston bombing.

I live within a quick commute to Boston. I had friends running in the marathon, and lots of friends of friends running as well, or volunteering, or covering the marathon as part of their media job.

Plenty of friends work downtown, right by that section of Copley Square. Most of my friends who work downtown were off for the day (it's a regional holiday), but some employers don't close, so a few were very close or could view the bombing from their office windows.

My personal Facebook feed blew up as the news spread. I lived in a blissful bubble for an hour or so, though I saw siren-screaming emergency vehicle after siren-screaming emergency vehicle pour out of my suburb and point east. I should have realized, but I didn't, driving my children to and fro from playdates and sports in a Mommy Bubble.

When I came home and had frantic voice mails and FB posts from family in other states wondering if I'd been downtown, I quickly learned what had happened.

My kids watched the news with me and asked questions no parent should have to answer, and I policed the media to make sure they didn't see certain images. I, however, looked at those images, and it drove home two things:

1. How horrific this bombing, and all acts of terrorism, really are.

2. That there are always helpers. Lots and lots and LOTS of helpers.

More helpers than evil. We really do outnumber them.

I've been working on a deadline, with promises of books to readers in April and May, and I'll get them out. I will. I promise!

But I'm taking a few days to hug my kids and just be with them, enjoy my husband (who is, unfortunately, out of state on a business trip, which makes me want to drive straight through the night and throw myself into his arms and just love on him and be loved, but he's home soon) and to be a helper however I can.

Donate blood if you can.
Donate money if you have it.
Donate time if you can spare it.
Donate love and help and thoughts and light and prayers, too. Those are all free and yet priceless, all at once.

I hope you, who are reading this, are safe and healthy and loved. And if the bombings touched you directly, my thoughts and prayers are with you and I am so deeply sorry. The sorrow of the day is shared by billions worldwide, and we are so, so good.

The good are, indeed, everywhere. Love will prevail.