How to Luck Out in Life

Jeff Bauman knew exactly when his life changed. 2:48 p.m on April 15 2013, one minute before one of the most high-profile terrorist on United States soil, was standing right next him. “We were half a block from the finish line of the Boston Marathon, two in a crowd of half a million,” (1). The Boston Marathon  is the signature event of Patriot’s Day, which celebrates Paul Revere’s ride and the local militiamen who fought the first battle of the American Revolution.  Jeff Bauman had arrived early to support his girlfriend Erin, who was running for charity. “Everywhere I looked, people were cheering and clapping, yelling for them to keep going, the finish line was close, and they were almost there,” (1).  Then Jeff Bauman noticed Tsarnaev.  A foot away, Tsarnaev stood wearing sunglasses, a white baseball cap and a hooded jacket. “No doubt. no remorse. The guy was a rock,” (2). Tsarnaev turned toward Jeff and stared at him.  Jeff moved forward to catch a better glimpse of the finish line, and when he turned his head over his shoulder, Tsarnaev was not there. Only a backpack.  What was in that backpack, changed the lives of many including Jeff Bauman forever.

In the pre-bomb setting of the novel Stronger by Jeff Bauman, Jeff could be considered the ‘ordinary’. He grew-up living with his mom in a small suburb in Massachusetts. After a few years Jeff set out to become an engineer. However, that didn’t work out. Bauman had student loans to cover most of his costs, however, ended up owing nine hundred dollars, and could not register for the next semester.  “I started working part-time in the deli at Costco. I figured I’d take another semester off, work at Costco, and see if I could save nine-hundred dollars. Three years, later, I was stilling working at the Costco deli counter,” (14). Jeff enjoyed his work, it was easy and he loved his coworkers. From his work at Costco he met Erin, Jeff’s future girlfriend.  “We hit it off right away. She later told me what she liked most about me was that I was so nice. Ouch, E. That kind of stings,”(16). Eleven months later, Jeff was cheering on his girlfriend, who was running the Boston Marathon for charity. Jeff and his friends cheered her on when Erin passed mile 18 in Newton, near Heartbreak Hill, the hardest climb on the course. When Erin was near Jeff they took a group picture and Jeff told her that he will be at the finish line. At this turning point in the novel, many had no idea of what horrific event would happen next. “And then she was gone, up the slope toward Heartbreak Hill It seemed so trivial at the time, like the most ordinary thing in the world. I guess that’s usually how it is before bad luck, or random chance, changes your life, ” (21).

The setting and exposition of the novel, Stronger, could be viewed as a symbol of how life can change that any moment. Jeff Bauman was at the Boston Marathon to support and cheer on his girlfriend. However, bad luck and random chance had the ability to change his life forever. Just like flight MH370 from Kulala Lumpur to Beijing, flight MH370 was supposed to be an ordinary six hour flight.  However, it turned out not to be. It was out of random chance that out of all the planes that were in the sky at the time, the people on board of MH370 turned out to be unlucky. Life can change at any moment, right now, tomorrow or in a year, however, there is not always a way to prevent it. Life should be lived. Jeff Bauman was nearly killed in a bombing, however, he had the ability to get back up, and appreciate his life once again.

Featured image found at this site