A steam pipe burst in downtown Boston on Wednesday spewing steam and debris into the air, causing the evacuation of several buildings in the area due to the threat of possible asbestos exposure. Although tests have yet to confirm that any asbestos has been released into the air, a representative of Tigren Energy Companies has confirmed that some of the older steampipes are insulated with asbestos. Hazmat crews were quickly on the scene wetting down the area to prevent any more debris from becoming airborne. Two pedestrians and two Tigren workers who were hit with debris from the exploding manhole also had to be hosed down by public safety officials. Cleanup and asbestos testing was to continue in the area around the intersection of Otis Street and Summer Street near Downtown Crossing, where the explosion occurred. The explosion comes just two months after a similar steam pipe rupture in New York City that left one woman dead. Following that incident, Boston's Mayor Menino had called for stricter steam pipe regulations.

Leaving a legacy means different things to different people. To me it means leaving something behind to show I made a difference in this world and in the lives of the people I love. I have worked with people suffering from terminal illnesses and multiple medical issues for years. Often they and their families have tried to find ways to be remembered by their loved ones and future generations. Leaving a legacy can be done by an individual who is suffering illness and facing death, someone who is growing older and is planning ahead, or by a loved one in honor of someone who has already passed away. Sometimes a person's legacy will take the form of a physical representation or reminder for when they are gone; other times it will exist only in the hearts and minds of their loved ones. The ideas and projects I have seen have been as varied as the families I have worked with.

Some things to consider when choosing to create your legacy may include:

• Beliefs, values, and insights you have gained through your experiences

• Stories and memories of events and experiences that were important to you

• Hopes and dreams you have for your loved ones

• Prayers and wishes for your family and friends

• A record of your thoughts and feelings as you approach the end of life

Ideas and projects that have helped other people and their loved ones:

• Creating a video or audio tape (on your own or with someone interviewing you)

• Creating a list of lessons learned (to be passed on to loved ones)

• Putting together a cookbook or your family recipes

• Making a photo album or scrapbook

• Keeping a journal or memoir

• Writing letters to loved ones

• Creating a piece of artwork (for example a poem, painting, or quilt)

• Filling a memory box with photos, letters, drawings, and other mementos

• Planting a tree or garden

• Planning a gathering to celebrate your life or the life of your loved one

• Honoring a family tradition or making a new tradition in your loved one’s memory

• Starting a memorial scholarship fund

• Making a donation or giving a charitable gift (either in money or time)

How do you want loved ones to remember you? What have you contributed to others and what has given your life meaning? Is it important to you to have contributed to others, to your friends and family, your community, and humanity in general? Each of our lives touches so many other lives. By establishing our legacy, we can live on in the memories of our loved ones and in the lives we have touched along the way.