Be patient, and plan ahead
Massive highway closings. Potentially maddening traffic jams. Random bag checks. Left-wing protesters. Right-wing protesters. Tourists. Politicians.
If there is one virtue Bostonians will need to muster during the week of the Democratic National Convention, it is patience, many say, in doses that would impress Job. Everything you want to do will probably take more time.
The convention is a chance for the city to shine on a national scale. But no amount of planning for such a major event can completely remove the element of the unexpected, officials say. Predicted disruptions of normal services are causing anxiety, compounded by lingering fears of a possible terrorist attack.
Maintaining peace of mind means letting go of circumstances beyond one's control, said Dr. Alphonse Tatarunis of the New England Stress Management Center in Middleton.
"It's going to be four days, and you can't do a thing about it," Tatarunis said. "You have the choice. You can either go crazy or you can't. It's up to you."
And, officials say, residents can take some steps now to stay above the fray and avoid getting caught behind a bus of delegates or trapped in a snaking line of visitors waiting for subway tokens. Buy tokens and passes now, before the masses arrive, said MBTA General Manager Michael H. Mulhern.
Mulhern also suggested picking up a copy of the T's booklet of service and schedule changes and mapping out a route to work. By planning to leave an hour earlier for work and an hour earlier for home, if possible, commuters can avoid the biggest crowds, he said.
Drivers should also try to leave an hour earlier and steel themselves for long waits. Books on tape may help pass the time.
"People need to keep in mind that as long as you're going to travel, you've got to be patient," said Jeff Larson, general manager of SmartRoute Systems, a traveler information service based in Cambridge.
Boston customers expecting deliveries should check with their courier service; some delays are possible, although deliveries are expected as normal, even in the area around the FleetCenter, said a UPS spokeswoman, Jackie Larson.
One way to cope with the convention is to join in the activities. The convention host committee is planning events that highlight the city's rich political culture.
Boston By Foot will be leading walking tours of sites in Boston political history departing from Curley Park, across from Faneuil Hall. The tours last about 90 minutes and cost $12. The Otis House Museum on Cambridge Street will feature an exhibition of rarely seen photographs of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy. The exhibition, called "Local Hero," is free to the public and open Wednesday through Sunday through Aug. 8. The Museum of Fine Arts is featuring an exhibit of portraits of US presidents. And children are invited to share their thoughts for the next US president at the Mary Baker Eddy Library on the Christian Science Plaza. The project allows children to write messages to John F. Kerry and George W. Bush that will be displayed in the library. A selection will be sent to each candidate
For political types, the week may actually be enjoyable. House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran likened the experience to hosting a large family: fun, with some stoicism required.
"I say put on the best face and smile your way through it," he said. "If I could sing, I'd break out into song."
