City's sights and sounds still spark happiness

The sound of cabs honking, the ringing of Christmas bells by Salvation Army volunteers, the smell of fresh flowers being sold on street corners and the repairing of signs for the Easter parade and St. Patrick’s Day parade in Southie are some of the things that always brought the city alive with excitement.

But I have to say, walking Broadway from St. Brigid Church on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning after Mass with my wife, Kathy, and grandson Braeden, or through the Seaport District and other Boston neighborhoods, well, it doesn’t get any more friendly than that. I love seeing all the girls and boys walking with their dads on Broadway. Or see police officer Bob Lucas talking to all the merchants. And the ladies who work at the Dunkin’ Donuts on L Street couldn’t be more friendly or sweet.

I know we all see this, whether it’s in Adams Village, Oak Square or the South End. I often wonder to myself, why do we not see this in the media?

The other day at the McKinley South End Academy, students, teachers, civic leaders, Mayor Martin J. Walsh and I paid tribute to Mel King. The old school gym, where Mel and I played a lot of hard-fought basketball games against each other many years ago, was named after Mel King — a man who has been a friend to many over the past 89 years.

Afterward, a newcomer to the South End came up to me and said, “Mayor, I’m curious ... what I heard about the old Boston of you and Mel King is not what I’ve since learned about. Including the remarkable stories we all heard here today. Why do these stories not get told today? Shouldn’t our young people hear them? Wouldn’t it make them feel proud about their neighborhood, heritage and themselves?”

Well, Mel’s special day was not yet over. The Scholars Brigade of the McKinley School warmed the audience with a beautiful presentation of school unity and pride. One of the students told Mayor Walsh, Mel King and me, “You made us all feel so important being here in our school today.”

But I say it is the students at the McKinley School — the future leaders and citizens of our city — who make us all proud. As parents and grandparents, you make us feel like all our hard work was worth it. You are proving to everybody that the future of Boston is still one of tradition, pride and hope.

Yes, I still like the sounds and sights of Boston.