It’s a beautiful spring morning and quite hard to believe that only one week ago the city was a ghost town.  Deserted streets, closed businesses, a city in mourning yet trying to rebound, hoping to heal . . . hoping to hope again!
And then out of the darkness came just that.  Hope in the form of kindness . . . like rays of sunshine, little life preservers, the emerging realization that the heart heals and even becomes stronger . . .  and stronger!
If you would like some reasons to smile and to shake your head in wonderment, you need do nothing more than read on . . .
Our humble little bakery received the most heartfelt phone calls from very kind and caring strangers (though one conversation, and strangers they were no longer), from places like Sandy Hook, New York, Chicago, Sacramento, and the list goes on.  Sentiments poured in from across the country, even lovely posts on our facebook page simply because we handed out free coffee and little cookies.  For as long as I can remember, I’ve held the dream of opening a bakery cafe.  Now having opened with the love and support of family, dear friends and an amazing bakery cafe team, I’m equally overwhelmed with gratitude and just how much work this can be!
Yet it all gives way in the realization that those of us in the business likely do it because we are passionate about food and deep in the fiber of who we are believe that food is love and holds the magical power of bringing people together.  I know that I was lucky enough to grow up in a family that believes that and parents who wouldn’t have been anywhere else but at the bakery cafe, painting, baking, hanging little pieces of our story on the walls, as we prepared to open our doors to our first customers on a cold February morning!
And the sharing and caring was contagious and brought smiles to many a face as a former resident of the Boston area, though always a Bostonian in his heart, phoned again and again until he was able to reach us amidst the chaotic days that ensued.  His request, simple; his generosity and kindness, monumental!
His story goes like this . . . a mom who recently retired as a nurse, working the finish line of the Boston Marathon many a year, relatives in law enforcement, emotional ties to a city where he was born and raised and experienced the spirit of Patriot’s Day for so many years.  Could we possibly bring breakfast to as many of the first responders and crews on site helping to put our city and our hearts back together again!
I’m so proud of our team who were more than up for the task, making delicious breakfast burrito after breakfast burrito, as I watched our chef in amazement; our baker decorating heart shaped, heart felt cookies . . . and then together with one of our unbelievably positive bakers and dear friend who has been there for me in this bakery cafe endeavor every step of the way, we wound our way up and down the streets of Boston sharing the gift of this wonderful, man and his wife.  If you close your eyes, you will be able to see smiles and astonished faces, hear laughter and responses like We’re proud to serve Boston, It’s an honor, oh yeah, and lots of Yummmmmmms!

And if that weren’t enough, the sharing continued and the growing realization of how connected we all are when I received the following email . . .
Hi! 
If you could respond to my e-mail and attach a photo of the sign I would appreciate it. 
Our group from Toronto was in your cafe for breakfast last Tuesday after the Boston Marathon. We had to walk a long distance to find your cafe as everything at our end (Copley Square) was closed. We found you by asking a passerby on the street where it was good to eat ------so being there was completely unplanned. 
I had been standing watching the Marathon with friends since 11:30 a.m. the previous morning waiting for my husband and for one of our close friends to finish ---I was  right across from where bomb #2 went off. Lucky for me and for our friends our runners were on time and finished the marathon before the bomb went off. If either of them had walked any part of the course and been delayed 20 - 30 mins -- it might have been a very different story for all of us. 
Needless to say, when I came in that morning, I sat right across from that sign, I read it and it really spoke to me -- I knew I was lucky to be there to read it, so if you would kindly send me a photo, I would surely appreciate it. 
We enjoyed your cafe and the food very much and would come there again if we are in Boston. 
We hope you'll venture in to read the sign 

Our hearts go out, in return, to all of you who shared yours.  It is true, we are Boston Strong!