When the 5:45am alarm goes off in the middle of October and it's dark and raining outside, it doesn't inspire one to get up and go out for a run. I know how every step is a gift and every mile is a blessing as a survivor of paralytic polio and having been told 12 years ago I should prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome.
After our 20 minute meditation, Team McManus got dressed and headed to the Chestnut Hill Reservoir.
It had been a brutal several days with Ruth Anne's healing and recovery journey with PANS/PANDAS, an autoimmune condition that is a result of the immune system attacking the brain instead of a virus or bacterial infection and manifests with neuropsychiatric symptoms. We were all feeling depleted and drained but as always remaining positive and hopeful.
As we approached the Reservoir, Ruth Anne said, "Look a rainbow"
My heart filled with gratitude.
As we crossed the street, runners were taking videos and photos while we smiled at one another.
The rainbow continued to shine:
We were treated to these sensational scenes as we ran through periods of intermittent rain:
We felt cleansed, refreshed and renewed dedicated to moving forward:
After picking Tom up from work on Tuesday evening, we decided that we would pick up a few sides to go with our dinner, get our lottery ticket and stop at the bank. There were no sides at Star Market, the line for the lottery was extremely long and not moving because someone was cashing a check and we decided to completely abort the mission.
Tom usually takes a left out of the parking lot at Star Market but for "some reason" he took a right turn.
While we were waiting at the stop light Ruth Anne said, "Look...it's #lacostestrong referencing the sticker on the back of the car in front of us in the next lane:
Kevin LaCoste is a beloved member of Team Big Heart and the Westford Community and he suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury this summer. Part of the fundraising and spirit raising efforts has been stickers, tattoos, t-shirts along with a GoFundMe page and various fundraisers around town. You can read about Kevin and Ali's journey in my blog. I posted it on Facebook and immediately got a response that it was a friend of one of Kevin's family members.
After I shared our story of having arrived at that moment quite by accident, she said:
I love it! I also normally go a different route on my way home from MAA but I just felt like taking Hammond st today instead of Hammond pond parkway. Not sure why but now I know.
We had experienced a rough and tumble several days as can often happen with PANS/PANDAS and life in general but were reminded that the Divine is ever present in our lives.
A rainbow - a cleansing run in the rain and an amazing moment of synchronicity to end the day ... all is well when we have faith and stay connected to the Source of all that is!
To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours
Mary
Be sure to visit my website at www.marymcmanus.com
Hear my interview with Kendra Petrone on Magic 106.7's Exceptional Women Show by following this link
My books are available on Amazon and "Feel the Heal" and "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953" are available in Natick Center Cultural District at Paula Romero Dunbar's Celebration Boutique Paper Fiesta coincidentally located on Mile 10 of the Boston Marathon Route.
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