There was a confluence of events that called my soul back to New York City to have a Bucket List Adventure. Last year I was a guest on The Optimism Institute Blue Sky Podcast. I'd been a fan before I was a guest given their uplifting and inspiring conversations especially during these challenging times. Episode 95 was an Episode Swap with Arts Educators Save the World which I started following after the episode swap with Jonathan Groff. Coincidentally, Erica went to school with Lin-Manuel Miranda at Hunter College High School. Her first episodes in 2022, on Arts Educators was with Lin and Bobby Lopez. I subscribed to Arts Educators. In September of last year, Erica's guest was Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, author of "Lin Manuel-Miranda: The Education of an Artist." I started following Daniel on Instagram. I had not heard of The Hamilcast before Daniel was a guest talking about his soon to be released book. I was drawn into the world of Hamilton via The Hamilcast and Lin-Manuel's world reading Daniel's book. Hamilten filled the social media news feed. What a thrill to see Hamilton on the big screen in early September while getting behind the scenes conversations on The Hamilcast.
I'd been social media friends with Tom and Michael D'Angora for several years. Tom and I connected initially as Fanilows. Our connection grew deeper after Kamala Harris lost the election. He was a beacon of light in the darkness. He had a major role in Hillary Clinton's campaign and was no stranger to the profound feelings we experienced after both elections. In January 2025, Tom and Michael saved a beloved theater district staple, The West Bank Cafe, from closure. I was drawn to the restaurant and its food and ambiance like a moth to a flame.
Javier Munoz, who (among many other things) narrated Daniel's book, was in "Wonder," here in Cambridge, MA. On January 1st, he posted a reel taking the Acela to New York to sing at Mayor Mamdani's inauguration. It sealed the deal for me to set the bucket list goal of an NYC adventure for 2026.
Train tickets, theater tickets and hotel were booked on January 11th for April 17-19th. I felt divinely guided. Tom and I just knew we wanted to do something different for the Boston Marathon Weekend this year. As a very long, cold, snowy winter dragged on, I kept myself warm and my spirits high listening to the Hamilcast, reading Daniel's book, Jeffrey Seller's book, "Theater Kid" while training for the Hyannis Marathon Weekend 10K. The disappointment of race weekend being cancelled because of the blizzard, was tempered by knowing I would be returning to NYC in 6 weeks.
I grew up in Westchester. I contracted paralytic polio in one of the last polio epidemics. I endured abuse at the hands of a drug addicted mother and an alcoholic father BUT my cousin, Paul Blake would come to our house from the Bronx and play show tunes at our piano encouraging me to belt out songs despite not being able to keep a tune in a bucket. He encouraged my parents to take us to see Broadway shows. When the lights dimmed and the curtain rose, I was transported to another world. Musical theater provided not only a healing balm but lit up my heart and soul. In Chapter 20 in "Theater Kid" my cousin's name leapt off of the page. He played an influential role in Jeffrey's life as a producer. I was feeling all the feels of our NYC bucket list adventure before the train left the station.
Because it was Boston Marathon weekend, Tom and I did not want to take public transportation, Uber or Lyft to the train station. We left plenty of time to get to the station using Boston Carriage, a limousine service. Why not right? After all it was a Bucket List adventure. When we went to the track we asked someone if they knew how to gauge where the cars stop since we had reserved seats. She smiled and pointed down to signs that indicated car numbers. We boarded the train with ease. I often get anxious when I have to "mind the gap" but I visualized myself easily stepping onto the train. Although I have mostly overcome the effects of paralytic polio and trauma, I still experience challenges in certain situations. What a luxury to have 3 1/2 hours to sit back and just be present! I meditated, enjoyed the scenery and the anticipation of heading to New York on a rail line I often took from Westchester to New York. My great Aunt Laura would have me take the train in to meet her. We'd have lunch, go to a matinee and I'd sleep over in her Greenwich Village apartment.
We didn't mind waiting for a taxi outside of Moynihan Train Hall. It was sunny and 70 degrees! We put our jackets in the suitcase, turned our faces to the sun and listened to the unique sounds of NYC. I chose the Double Tree Hilton at Times Square West because of its proximity to the West Bank Cafe and the theater district. After a light bite in the Hotel restaurant, we headed up to our room. We were fortunate to get an early check in. We planned to unpack and head over to the Drama Book Shop before dinner. The Universe had other plans. That delicious sun that greeted us when we arrived, had been baking the room on the 29th floor. The thermostat was broken! Fortunately, Grace was the Front Desk Manager and after engineering declared that they couldn't fix it, she arranged for us to have another room. She took off the charges for our lunch and the upgrade to an upper floor and late checkout because of the inconvenience. We packed up, moved to our new room which was blissfully cool, unpacked for the 2nd time and rested before dinner.
I felt goosebumps seeing that Donna McKechnie is one of the Legends of Broadway doing a residency at the Beechman Theatre. I met Donna when I was a teenager at my cousin Paul's apartment in the Village at a Christmas Party and had seen her in Promises, Promises, Company and A Chorus Line. When Tom and I entered The West Bank Cafe, he asked me if I recognized anybody. There was a line of diners waiting to be seated. Towering above them all was my Facebook/Instagram friend Tom D'Angora and his husband Michael. We chatted a bit before Tom led us to a cozy booth in the back of the restaurant. I was like a wide-eyed child taking in the whole scene of Hirschfeld drawings that lined the walls absorbing the ambiance that doesn't come through on social media. Tom let us know that this was his Hirschfeld collection, pointing out the different celebrities. Andrea McArdle's original Annie was on loan from the star herself.
Visit my website to learn how poetry, optimism, gratitude and the mind/body connection helped me to transform my life. After having been told in December 2006 that I should prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair, I went on to cross the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and have many adventures as runnergirl 1953. Be sure to visit the recently updated News and Events Page for links to podcast interviews, speaking engagements and where you can find my incredibly inspirational story.
We asked you to share the stories of the songs, the albums, and the moments when music reached in and changed everything. You delivered. And one story stopped us in our tracks. We are thrilled to announce that Mary McManus is the winner of the first-ever Music Saved Me Story Contest. Mary’s journey is one for the ages. She contracted paralytic polio at age five. She survived years of childhood trauma. And then, at the height of an award-winning career as a VA social worker, she was diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome and told to prepare to spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.
Music — and the healing power of words — had other plans for Mary.
Through poetry, perseverance, and an unshakeable belief in what’s possible, Mary transformed her life. At 53 she became a runner. At 55 she crossed the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon. That is what music can do."
I was recently the guest on The Optimism Institute Blue Sky Podcast. "Mary McManus has never had it easy. As a kindergartner, she was a victim of polio just a short time before the vaccine was introduced. She also faced trauma in her home life but somehow managed to persevere and overcome these and still more obstacles throughout her life. Today, Mary is an inspiring author, poet, motivational speaker, and finisher of the Boston Marathon." Here is the link to the Episode Website. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and on YouTube.
Reach out to me at maryamcmanus@gmail.com if you'd like me to speak to your organization or group to inspire them with what's possible despite all appearances to the contrary; how one finds strength, resilience and determination in the face of seemingly impossible odds.
