Big Papi Said It All; We Stand Together in This 'Bleeping City'

Let me preface this by saying that my words cannot do the ceremony justice--not even close. Big Papi's sentiments are as close as I've heard anyone come to how most of us feel about the events of the last week.

You would have thought that the Red Sox were warming up for a World Series game by the crowds that were gathered outside Fenway on Saturday. Although security was stricter than I have ever seen it and the lines to be frisked were leading up both sides of Lansdowne Street, I didn't hear a single complaint from the fans. It did nothing to deter the sheer number of fans or the celebratory feeling of the day.

Fenway has to be the most appropriate place to honor the heroes of the week. I have always felt a connectedness to my fellow Bostonians in Fenway. Fenway Park held over 35,000 of our citizens on Saturday with many more watching on from the streets below to honor our heroes that jolted into action last Monday afternoon. Honoring the Boston Marathon volunteers that sprang into action within seconds of the bombs going off on Boylston to honoring Rick and Dick Hoyt, a father and son that may exemplify the finest our city has to offer, the ceremony left no one out. By the time our National Anthem was sung following our new Boston tradition born in The Garden by the Bruins the day after the bombings followed by a spontaneous "USA" chant, there were very few dry eyes in the park.

I feel like I fit in pretty well in Boston. I'm not sure this is a compliment--in fact, I'm pretty sure it's the opposite on most days. I keep my head down and mind my own business. I'm not particularly friendly or warm and fuzzy. I don't have a sentimental bone in my body (unless your talking about one of my favorite Red Sox players.) I have no patience for BS and tend to tell you exactly what I think. I curse the traffic but hell if I'm taking the T. I believe that one way street signs refer to the orientation of your car and not necessarily the direction of travel. And I know that Patriot's Day and the Boston Marathon is one of the best events in the city. I have seen runners battle Heartbreak Hill in Newton many times and choose to watch in this location because of the grit that is displayed when these athletes are tackling the hill after running 18 or so miles. President Obama has said it, Mayor Menino has said it and I think we all know it--we are a feisty bunch. Maybe that's why it seems so much more moving when we turn out en mass to honor our city.

There have been many heartfelt acts of solidarity from some of our archrivals -- from the singing of Sweet Caroline at Yankee Stadium, to the Panthers wearing "Boston Strong" jerseys on the ice. All have been touching reminders that as much as we love to hate our opponents in this town, when the rubber hits the road, we do stand together as one.