Finneran: In Appreciation

Finneran: In Appreciation

A few thoughts on appreciation:

In appreciation of at least the illusion of Spring. Sure it’s been cold and wet and raw and lousy outside. But the daffodils and tulips have bloomed, the trees have leafed out, and, on the Cape, the herring are running…

In appreciation of ice cream shops everywhere. What a treat, whether at home or away. Vanilla bean? Yes! Maple walnut? Yes! Chocolate chip? Yes! Peach? Yes! In a waffle cone please…

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In appreciation of the magnolia trees along Beacon Street, Commonwealth Avenue, and Marlborough Street. Their annual bloom is stunning. And they seem to be in perfect synch with the running of the Marathon. I suspect that the many runners from out of state and from around the world carry in their minds a beautiful image of Boston in bloom…

In appreciation of playoff hockey. And my appreciation is not driven solely by the impressive success of the Bruins. Yes, they certainly are playing great hockey. But even without the Bruins surging, playoff hockey is great to watch. The speed, strength, and skill of the players is amazing. And the fact that teams go head-to-head in battle for a minimum of four games over a short and intense span of days means that real animosities develop between opposing players. Such fun….

In appreciation of babies. So sweet, so innocent, so curious, so dependent, and so fulfilling. Watch their eyes as they take in the world. Listen to their coos and their cries as they try to guide us through their nights and days. A young couple in a restaurant a few nights ago seemed distressed that their baby’s call might be upsetting other diners. I assured them that the baby was more important than old-timers like me and that the baby’s call was a symphony to the future. We old-timers cherish the optimism in the future that every young Mom and Dad represent. Best of all of course is to hear a baby’s murmur during Sunday Mass. That’s a double-header of hope and faith in the future…….

In appreciation of pizza. Having rendered a salute to ice cream shops, it seems necessary to offer a similar salute to pizza. So many shops, so many toppings, so little time. Pizza is one of the ultimate comfort foods. I’ll have eggplant and tomatoes on mine. Caramelized onions too. I have a great memory of sharing a pizza with my daughter at an outdoor cafe in Rome. It was piled high with arugula, and of course the vino, a rough chianti, was a perfect match. I felt like a noble Roman…..

In appreciation of good health and great health care. We take the former for granted until it’s at risk. We cherish the latter when things go wrong. Doctors, nurses, and medicines provide help and hope as loved ones navigate some of life’s challenges. Boston is blessed with the best health care in the world….

In appreciation of friends, old and new. They are the tonic of life. May you be blessed with many friends.

 

Tom Finneran is the former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, served as the head the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, and was a longstanding radio voice in Boston radio