While there are privacy issues inherent in any national tragedy, this will not be a post about privacy. Here at the IAPP, we, too, are reeling after the events that marred the historic running of the Boston Marathon and changed so many lives in a matter of seconds. Our hearts are with the victims—those whose lives have been lost and those who have suffered unimaginable injuries, and their families and friends.

April 15, 2013, started out as the best kind of Monday here at the IAPP. One of our own—after innumerable runs, an incredible commitment to training and weeks upon weeks of fundraising to support a very worthy cause—was taking part in the Boston Marathon. And, thanks to the wonders of our Information Age, we were able to track her progress as she ran toward her goal of completing the world’s oldest annual marathon.

A little cheer rippled through the office as she hit the first 5K, 10K …

We are among the fortunate. Our friend and her IAPP colleagues who traveled to Boston in the unfulfilled hope of watching her cross the finish line were not in the area of the blasts.

There were some very tense moments here after the first reports of the tragedy made their way to our social networks and news channels, stunning many of us to silence as we waited to hear if our colleagues—our friends—were safe. That collective worry has been replaced by shock at the senseless attack on innocent human beings by an anonymous coward or cowards who take their personal rage out on strangers. It is replaced with grief—for an eight-year-old boy, the one victim to be identified as of this writing, whose life was taken too soon, and for those who have not yet been named. And, that worry has been replaced by appreciation for the first-responders, runners and spectators who put others before themselves to tend to those most in need.

To all those personally affected by the Boston Marathon tragedy, please know our thoughts and prayers are with you.