ah, it's always a challenge when the meaning behind an image gets altered halfway through its creation...

I drew and inked the sketch of this about two weeks ago when I was in Boston. The city had shown me great hospitality and warmth; elated and cozy, I drew this in expression of my gratitude, partially reflecting the scenic ride northward to Massachusetts, partially reflecting the stay (with the beavers being an allusion to MIT)

but of course, things changed after the Boston Marathon bombing. This didn't feel like a simple expression of gratitude any longer, but a homage to the spirit of the city. The overwhelming kindness I received two weeks ago, and the overwhelming kindness shown to the sufferers of the terrible event, both reflected the overpowering force of good within the city. I hope that the goodness radiates from this city to remind us all; let us not hate the perpetrators, but love the saviors; let us not mourn the evil, but celebrate the lives of the dead; and let us not conspire against or discriminate one another, nor act out in fear, but remember we can all be innately good, and our expressions of kindness can awaken the innate goodness inside others as well.

God bless.