Just like every other American, we were glued to the television yesterday, and we were shocked and saddened by the tragic events that were unfolding at the Boston Marathon.

Even Joe was watching the news coverage in between catnaps.  At one point he woke up to see footage of the bombs going off at the finish line and it really startled him.

Joe:  “We’d better get out of here, Dot!”

Dot:  “Where do you want to go?”

Joe:  “Well it looks like we’d best be getting home because something bad is happening!”

Dot:  “We ARE home, Joe.”

Joe:  “OH NO!  OH NO!!”

I reached over and put my hand on his shoulder to make him feel safe.

Me:  “It’s okay Joe.  We are all safe at home.  No one is going to get hurt.”

Joe:  “Is that right?”

Dot:  “The bombing is happening in Boston, on the East Coast.”

Joe:  “Bombs??”

Me:  “Yes, but we are far away from it.”

Joe:  “Well that’s good!”

Me:  “Yes, it is good for us, but it’s definitely not good for the people in Boston.”

Joe:  “Well I guess I’d better go help out!  Dot, where is my uniform?”

Dot:  “You don’t have your uniform anymore.”

Joe:  “Oh yes I do!  It’s around here somewhere!”

Me:  “What uniform are you looking for, Joe?”

Joe:  “My fireman uniform.  I can’t help put out a fire without my uniform!”

Dot:  “You’ve retired from the fire department, Joe.”

Joe:  “I have not!”

Dot:  “Yes you have!  You’re too old to be a fireman.”

Joe:  “Too old MY ASS!  Now help me find my uniform so that I can go and help those people!!”

Clearly it was time for me to change the subject.

Me:  “Hey Joe, how about I go and fix you a snack?”

Joe’s eyes lit up:  “Well…I guess I could eat a little something.”

Me:  “How does ice cream sound?”

Joe just about jumped out of his chair he was so happy:  “ICE CREAM?!  Well I’d say that sounds pretty darned good!”

Me:  “Okay then, ice cream it is.”