I covered eight or nine Boston Marathons and part of the credential package was a jacket, made it easier for the marshals to figure out who belonged where. Of all of those, I only saved two – from the 100th running in 1996 and my last one, from 2002.

Both hang in the back of a closet, both are black. I posted on a friend’s Facebook wall this morning that I missed those days. Given what happened a few hours later, I wish I could take it all back. I wish no one was along Boylston Street this afternoon. I wish that none of my friends and former colleagues were at the finish line. I wish no one gathered in Hopkinton and I wish no one was hurt today.

Over on my other site, I’ve said what I need to say to my professional friends. Here, I’ll just say I’m sad. Of all the things I have covered, few matched the sheer joy and exuberance of the Boston Marathon. Everyone was happy.

I wish it could be like that again.