As I wrote in my Dedication, "Hope is a Garden is lovingly dedicated to...
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. who, at the age of 78 years old took on the bully and won, bringing hope and compassion to a nation of individuals who were tired and hopeless."
In March of this year, I was inspired to send a copy of "Hope" to the President as a way of expressing my gratitude for his willingness to step up and tackle the dire state of our Nation with the pandemic, racial tensions at an all time high and being on the brink of economic disaster. I sent him this note:
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Biden,
In March of 2020, our world came to a screeching halt with no hope in sight. I am no stranger to my world coming to a screeching halt. At the age of 5 I contracted paralytic polio in one of the last polio epidemics in the United States. I had the vaccines but I was playing with my best friend whose mother was not vaccinated. We contracted the virus on the same day. I endured severe child abuse at the hands of family members with an alcoholic father, a drug addicted mother and a mentally ill grandmother. At the age of 17, my father ended his life having come close to ending my mother’s life and my own life. I do believe in guardian angels. At the age of 53, I was given the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease and told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair. I was at the height of my award winning career as a social worker at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
As I had done when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds in my life, I got still and asked for Divine Guidance. The answer came in the form of a poem and then many poems in which I imagined myself running free and being healed using forgiveness and gratitude to heal my past. I went on to run the 2009 Boston Marathon raising $10,535 for Spaulding Rehab where I took the first steps on my healing journey. Fast forward to today where I am a published poet, author and motivational speaker.
When the world came to a screeching halt, I turned to what I call my divining rod for healing, my pen and wrote “Hope is a Garden: Poems and Essays From the 2020 Pandemic.” Without your courage to take on ‘the bully’, this book would not have been possible nor would we have become a people now filled with hope and possibilities. I wrote it in real time as we navigated those turbulent and uncertain times always holding onto hope and possibilities despite all appearances to the contrary. While we were blessed financially, the pandemic took quite an emotional toll especially for our adult daughter who is healing from a brain injury caused by an untreated infection and misdiagnoses. She is doing much better and I must say, working on your campaign and seeing you as the President has brought so much relief.
Please accept this author copy of ‘Hope is a Garden: Poems and Essays From the 2020 Pandemic” as my deepest token of gratitude and appreciation to you, Dr. Jill Biden and your incredible Team. I will be adding “Ode to a New Administration” to the Epilogue.
When the pandemic is over and it is safe to travel again, we look forward to visiting Washington, DC again, and we would love to have the opportunity to thank you in person. Until then…Be well!
With warmest regards and deepest gratitude,
Mary McManus, MSW
My daughter and I visited Washington, DC many years ago and spent several days there taking in the sights and visiting the Capitol. As one who worked with veterans for almost 20 years, I was deeply moved to experience the monuments and Arlington National Cemetery. We met with the aides for our Senators and Representatives. We have great memories and would love to make new memories that would include a stop at the White House. I put it all out to the Universe and released it!
We picked up Tom for lunch on Friday.
As the rain poured down, Ruth Anne stopped on the steps in front of the door to look through the mail.
"Come on...it's pouring and dad needs to get out from the ..."
My voice trailed off.
"Mom...you have something from the White House," Ruth Anne interrupted.
I couldn't quite comprehend what she said.
I saw a small envelope among the other mail we received. Ruth Anne extended it to me in her hand.
"Well aren't you going to open it?"
I gingerly opened it ...
This was inside:
Dear Ms. McManus,
Thank you for sending such a thoughtful gift. I greatly appreciate the warm welcome you and so many of our fellow Americans have extended to me and my family.
Our country faces many challenges, but this is the time for Americans to set aside our differences, to try to understand one another, and to strive to make the promise of a just, prosperous and secure Nation a reality for all. If we look ahead in our uniquely American way and set our sights on the Nation we know we can be, we will meet this moment.
Thank you again for your gift. I look forward to writing the next great chapter in the American story with you.
Sincerely,
Joe Biden
When I sent off the book, I wasn't sure if it would make it through security and if it would, get into the hands of President Biden. But my intention was from my heart and I wanted to share my message of hope, healing and possibilities and the book that he helped to inspire by his campaign and the early days of his presidency.
I wondered if he would continue the tradition that President Obama started with receiving 10 letters a day from his staff to read every night in the residence. Apparently he is continuing the tradition of responding to his constituents.
These ARE very challenging times. We celebrated the end of the pandemic too soon having no idea that the Delta Variant would be as highly contagious as it is nor that people would choose to not get vaccinated. The CDC made recommendations based on the data after vaccination which brought a sense of hope, relief and freedom to those who chose to be vaccinated. We need to continue to be patient and take public health measures while vaccination rates increase and, over the next several months, infection rates once again decline.
After receiving the note from President Biden, my heart overflowed with gratitude and my Spirit soared with joy.
As I have done throughout my 14 year journey after the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome and throughout the pandemic, I honor and hold space for times when I wobble on the side of fear and exhaustion while seeing beyond appearances always remembering that Hope is a Garden!
From my heart to yours
In health and wellness,
Mary
Visit my website
to learn more about my journey of transformation in the wake of
paralytic polio and trauma to the finish line of the 2009 Boston
Marathon and beyond.
Be sure to listen to my recent conversation with Liz Brunner, award winning journalist, now CEO of Brunner Communications on her podcast Live Your Best Life. I share how I live my best life despite the challenges that I faced at an early age.
For all of my recent appearances, be sure to visit my News and Events tab on my website.
My books to inspire and uplift you are available on Amazon.
