In The Face of Adversity...What's in my Toolbox?

 

We agreed that this year, unlike in 2016, we would go to bed early and wait for any election results in the morning. Everything seemed so different from 2016 once Kamala Harris became the nominee. Even her campaign manager was confident that there was a clear path to victory. She had the money, a brilliantly executed campaign, throngs of supporters at her rallies, backing from members of the Republican Party and his own staff from when he was 45 organizing to vote for Kamala. It was quite a shock when Tom, Ruth Anne and I checked my email to see the Globe headline that he was on the cusp to become the 47th President. We all felt gutted, shocked, angry, frustrated and confused. It was incomprehensible a) that he was allowed to run for office and b) anyone would vote for a felon among all the many labels he and his followers carry. Fear and racing thoughts took hold until we all took a collective breath and moved forward with our day. 

We connected with like-hearted individuals in social media and in real time. We were blessed with "chance meetings" in the neighborhood with two neighbors who we've known for years. We shared a laugh, tears, anger and hugs. Ruth Anne also visited a dear friend whose daughter is critically ill in the hospital. They made it a political free zone. 

On Wednesday evening, Ruth Anne received notification that her dream of the past 5 years to run the Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab had come true. She has been accepted to the Race for Rehab Team. She is well enough to take on the challenges of running Boston and fund raising. She wants to give back to the place that has done so much to help her find her strength and fully recover from her incredible challenges of the past 5 years. The outpouring of love and support on Facebook for her announcement touched our hearts and souls. On Thursday, we kept very busy with chores, fund raising and continued connections with like-hearted friends and family. We had morning miles with a mission as we mailed off Ruth Anne's contract with Spaulding.

 

On Friday, after all that busyness on Thursday, we took a lot of time for meditation and prayer. I realized that I needed to reflect on what do I have in my toolbox to navigate this time of adversity and challenge. We poured our time, treasure and talent into the campaign and would do it all over again in a heartbeat but I needed to dig deep into my toolbox to maintain equanimity, and not be swallowed up by fear, anger and disappointment. I have known adversity and trauma since I was 5 years old. After the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome at the age of 53, I had to take a deep dive into how to radically improve my physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Perhaps these tools will be helpful to others. Feel free to add comments and share your own.

I started with gratitude. I looked through my Mac and Facebook photos to find gratitude quotes. Writing poetry about gratitude opened the portal to healing after the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome. In November, I post about 30 days of gratitude. This year I am amplifying those posts and honing in on what I am grateful for. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shortly after I contracted paralytic polio at age 5, I had an out of body experience. That touch of grace enabled me to endure recovery from paralytic polio and abuse at the hands of family members. I knew that the darkness would not prevail. I knew that there was something within me greater than my circumstances. I have faith that we all have the capacity to navigate these challenging times as we did in 2016. Staying connected with like-hearted people as we ride the waves of emotions and feeling a collective sense of determination based in faith and hope is an anchor.

It's sometimes easier to do this which is where my meditation practice comes in. I've been following Dan Harris on Instagram who wrote the book, "10 Percent Happier" and has been offering wonderful words of wisdom on his account. "Action is an antidote to anxiety," and "Don't do anxiety alone" are two gems. He also shares wisdom from the meditation teachers he has studied with through the years. Ruth Anne and I are reading "Make Every Move a Meditation" by Nita Sweeney. I love Divine Timing that we 'just happened' to be reading this book when we need it most. She even references her reaction to seeing yard signs during the 2016 election cycle. I put a time limit on my catastrophic thinking greeting my thoughts with compassion but not allowing the doom and gloom scenario to swallow me up. I am not watching the news and came up with a saying, "No news = less blues." I know that I will find out what information I need to be informed but not inundated.

A quote I heard years ago is, "If you're feeling helpless, help someone."

Did you know that kindness is an antidote to stress? And choosing kindness during these times where there are so many unkind words and actions being spoken is not an easy feat. BUT it is vital for our health and well-being. I am so blessed to be friends with Dr. David Hamilton. His latest book is, "The Joy of Actually Giving a F***."

Not only does he talk about the joy of caring for others but how vital it is to care for ourselves. He addresses those kindness conundrums such as how are we kind in the face of unkindness. It is a perfect time to pick up his book where he uses science to address the health benefits of kindness and why kindness is needed now more than ever. He is also offering a FREE 21-day kindfulness experiment that combines meditation and kindness practices. As I said earlier, I am in awe and so grateful for the Divine Timing of having these books and people coming into my life.

I've been friends with Tom D'Angora on Facebook through our mutual love of Barry Manilow. He played a major role in Hillary Clinton's campaign in 2016. We each shared the view that Kamala Harris' short yet extremely effective campaign had such a different feel from 2016. Despite his own feelings of devastation, he became a beacon of light emphasizing the need for self-care and expressing the feelings of his collective village. He suggested that we begin a daily journal of things that make us smile; where can we find the joy and a few moments of respite and relief while we process what happened. We then share on his page. 

And speaking of Divine Timing.. I saw a post from my friend Lee Woodruff that she was a guest on the Optimism Institute's podcast, "Blue Sky." That was back on September 25th. I had on my to do list that I wanted to listen to it and also reach out to the host, Bill Burke to see if my journey would be a good fit to share on his podcast. I finally got to it last week. We connected on LinkedIn and his assistant scheduled a time for us to meet. I follow the Optimism Institute on Instagram and Bill shared Reasons To Be Cheerful Post. I highly recommend following both those accounts and listening to the Blue Sky podcast.

Lee talks about her toolbox of navigating that horrific time in her life after Bob was critically injured in Iraq. She could write a book about resilience. Oh and she has! 

Chocolate - yes chocolate is in my toolbox but not just any chocolate, FlavaNaturals.

Let me close on this longer than usual blog post with two quotes:

and...  “Optimism is different than positive - and it's definitely not naive. Optimism is the belief that the future is positive, that there's a light at the end of the tunnel and we're heading there, together.” ~Simon Sinek

In health and wellness,

Mary

Visit my website to be inspired by my journey. May it ignite a spark within you to go farther than you ever believed you could. Be sure to visit the News and Events Page with links to podcast interviews, speaking engagements, where you can find my incredibly inspirational story and upcoming events.

Proud to BU is a podcast highlighting the illustrious achievements of Boston University Alumni. Here is the link to my episode.

My books that pack powerful messages of healing, hope and possibilities are available on Amazon  My 7th book, "A Most Unlikely Runner:Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" is receiving rave reviews and is a selection of the WBZ News Radio Book Club.

 

 

Chocolate -- FlavaNaturals

Ten Years Later: We Are Boston Stronger

 

Tomorrow marks the 14th anniversary of when I was blessed to run the 2009 Boston Marathon. Once you've experienced the Boston Marathon it becomes a part of your heart and soul.

With Tom and Ruth Anne getting ready to run the Providence Half Marathon on 5/7 for Victory Programs we weren't sure how much of the Boston Marathon Weekend festivities we were going to be a part of. BUT it was the 10th year after the events of 4/15/13 and the 50th anniversary of when our good friend Jacqueline Hansen won the Boston Marathon. We decided that Tom and Ruth Anne would drop me off at the Expo on Friday and spend time together in the afternoon while I soaked up the energy of the 127th Boston Marathon Weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was no line to get into the Expo. A volunteer stood near the entrance as I walked through where the lines would have wound around. He knew me from social media and we had a delightful chat about Boston Marathon Weekend. 

My first stop was at the FlavaNaturals Booth. I met the Founder of FlavaNaturals, Alan Frost at the Hyannis Marathon Expo in 2020. It was so awesome to see him again post-pandemic!

I was delighted to share my experience with FlavaNaturals Expo goers regaling the nutritious delicious product that Alan developed. What a surprise to find myself talking with someone I had not seen in several years. She took off her sunglasses and mask and I realized who she was. We briefly got caught up on life and reconnected as Facebook friends. It was one of those magical moments that gets orchestrated during Boston Marathon Weekend.

I wanted to get a front row seat for Jacqueline Hansen's Expo panel with her fellow Boston Marathon Champion, Jon Anderson celebrating their 50th anniversary of when they won Boston. The previous panel had just finished. I took a seat at the edge of the 2nd row. I just happened to look over and said, "Rosy" referencing Rosemary Spraker. We planned to meet last year but the stars didn't align. She provided our 2020 Virtual Expo panel with the technical support we needed to be able to submit our production for the on line Expo. We hugged for several minutes savoring that intense post-pandemic gratitude moment. Kathrine Switzer joined the conversation and we settled down to enjoy the next 45 minutes of Jacqueline and Jon sharing their Boston Marathon experiences.

 

Jacqueline donated the shirt she wore when she won the 1973 Boston Marathon to the Boston Marathon archives. One of her friend's presented her with a gift after the talk. It was a replica of the shirt she wore! Jacqueline was at first shocked and then moved to tears by the beautiful gesture.

Tom and Ruth Anne picked me up and we enjoyed a delicious dinner at Golden Temple, our favorite restaurant. On Saturday, we went on a run dedicating our miles to those who were injured and died on 4/15/13. We connected with friends on line and spread love, kindness and compassion in cyberspace and in real life.

Sunday was a day to relax as we prepared for Boston Marathon spectating. With the cold, rainy weather and Tom and Ruth Anne's upcoming Half Marathon in Providence, we decided to watch the race on line. What an amazing experience! WCVB TV did an outstanding job with commentary on the wheelchair race. We were moved to tears and goosebumps when Ernst van Dyk who was our Team Captain when we were part of Spaulding Rehab's Race for Rehab Team, received a standing ovation when he returned to the Fairmont Copley. This was his final Boston Marathon. 

It was a stunning upset for the Men's Elite runners and the Female Elite Runners had a fight to the finish.

We waited to go on our Monday run until the Elites had finished and cheered on our friends virtually as we tracked them. We headed to the Reservoir to get in our Monday miles when the cheering of the crowds from Cleveland Circle beckoned us to watch the runners for a bit. Despite the rain and chill in the air, feeling the energy of Marathon Monday warmed our hearts and souls. 

 

With the help of the BAA tracker, we were able to find and cheer for several of our L Streeters. I loved seeing how our presence gave them a boost.

One of Ruth Anne's friends from Camp and School was featured in a news report about Black Men Running Club. She was able to spot him coming down Chestnut Hill Avenue. She jumped up and down and screamed his name. The biggest smile flashed across his face as he headed toward the finish line. 

Here are photos that capture the atmosphere at Cleveland Circle:

Our feet were cold and we were about to head home when Ruth Anne suggested we wait for Henry Richard and the group of his brother Martin's friends who were running together. Martin's dream was to run the Boston Marathon when he turned 18 years old. To honor his memory, a group of Martin's friends who turned 18, joined Team MR8.

Boston was in full bloom thanks to a relatively mild winter and a two day heat wave last week (that fortunately broke before race day).

It was as though Mother Nature was mirroring the feelings of rebirth and renewal ten years after the tragic events of 4/15/13.

 

On our way home, we saw this pink heart in the little field:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love always wins. Light prevails.  Ten years later we ARE Boston Stronger!

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness,
Mary

Visit my website  to be inspired by my journey. May it ignite a spark within you to go farther than you ever believed you could. Be sure to visit the News and Events Page.

My books that pack powerful messages of healing, hope and possibilities are available on Amazon 

 Thank you to Mike Reilly for featuring my story on Stories From the Finish Line Sponsored by CURAD Performance Series  to inspire others.

A Tribute to Jamie, Our Beloved Cat

 

In October of 2011, our lives were changed forever when we adopted Jamie from the Animal Rescue League of Boston:

There was a post on Facebook from radio personality Mauzy Stafford that it was free cat adoption day at the ARL Boston. Our cat before Jamie, Alex,, was only 3 years old when he became ill and crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. We vowed that was it! No more cats. Tom and I had cats before we met and knew both the love they bring into our lives and the heartbreak when they leave.

But there was something about the Free Adoption Day and the photos posted on Facebook that gave us 'pause' to at least see what animals were there for adoption. 

We filled out the pre-adoption survey and then visited with the cats. There were kittens that were too feisty for us. As we let the staff know what we needed, they led us to Jamie. She was a 2 1/2 year old cat who was very shy. She wouldn't let staff pick her up. One of the volunteers made the bed for Jamie to bring her comfort. She was found on the streets in Medford but apparently had come from a home because she was spayed. She was in ill health but the ARL nursed her back to her health and she was ready to find a furever home. Because of her shyness, it was hard to find a furever home for her. We just knew she was the cat for us. 

It took Jamie 3 weeks to have any interaction with us. We knew she was okay because her food dish would be empty and her kitty litter box had waste in it. We gave her the space she needed to adjust to our home and once she did, she would sit in our lap. She would not let us pick her up which of course was a challenge when she had to go to the vet but she loved to snuggle and have her belly rubbed on the kitchen floor.

She did not like any toys or to play in the way many cats like to play but she had a sense of play watching animals through the window as she perched on the top of 'her' sofa. She loved running up and down the stairs from the 2nd floor all the way to the basement. One of her favorite times of day, besides meal time was to meditate with me. Whenever she heard Dr. David Hamilton's voice come on for a meditation, she would come bounding up the stairs to meditate next to me. She loved just being around us. She would often meow or do the "call of the wild" as we liked to call it for us to come downstairs just to be with her. She'd 'watch' shows on the computer with us by coming in between Tom and me to have a good view of the "West Wing" or a movie we'd be watching.

As we rescued her, she rescued us by infusing our home and our lives with a love that only an animal can bring.

Here are some of our favorite Jamie moments:

Her favorite blanket year round.

During meditation, she held my hand.

 During a Sunday strength training workout. She loved to be in the middle of where the action was.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If I got up from my chair, she'd hop right up and make herself at home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is one of my favs. I wonder what she was thinking about!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here she is with my book Hope is a Garden:Poems and Essays From the 2020 Pandemic. She was reading about herself in several essays and poems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Her favorite spot in the sun on her favorite 'blankie' - our comforter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Tuesday, Jamie had a sudden weight loss and stopped eating and drinking. She has had other episodes where she couldn't eat or drink for a few days and we thought she was ready to transition but then she would suddenly bounce back after we sat with her and played Dr. David's meditations, the Heal Documentary soundtrack and sent her lots of love and healing energy.

By Thursday we knew this was not meant to be this time. We explored what to do if she transitioned at home and also called our vets to see about helping her make her transition. Tom was in his office and Ruth Anne and I were at the table doing our work when all 3 of us heard her jump off the couch... only she hadn't! She was fast asleep. When she went downstairs a short while later and lay down in her kitty litter box we knew we needed to take her to the vet to help her along. When she was well she never let us carry her but during the three days she would let us hug her and carry her up and down stairs. There was one moment on Wednesday when she was lying on our bed that her eyes sparkled and her head was on her paw and she looked healthy again. Such a great memory to cherish of those final days.

 

They have a beautiful living room set up at the vets where animals and families can experience a loving and peaceful transition. The doctor who cared for her was an angel as was everyone we met. We sensed she was gone before they even administered the medication but they gave it to her anyway to ensure her comfort. It was a beautiful way to say goodbye. 

 

She is sending lots of signs to let us know she is still with us although we do miss her physical presence. I couldn't meditate yesterday because it was too painful so I honored those feelings. Ruth Anne and I went through pictures and I started this blog post as a tribute. Thank goodness we have so many wonderful photos of her life with us and Facebook reminds me daily of moments we shared.

 

Thursday evening after dinner we did what we always would do when Jamie was alive; we'd vacuum to make sure she didn't 'snack' on any crumbs that we may have dropped. We have a cordless vacuum that Jamie hated although as time went on, at times, she could tolerate being in the same room with it. It was fully charged and we had not used it during the day. Ruth Anne was with me and when we got to the part of the kitchen where Jamie's tray with her food dish and water dish had been, the vacuum stopped. It.just.stopped. I started it up again after moving from that spot and it started flashing low battery. When I put it back on the charger all the lights started flashing AND it was going on and off. I tried to turn it off and couldn't! I took it off the charger and waited a few minutes before I placed it back on the charger.

On Friday afternoon, we heard what sounded like a plastic cap dropping on the floor in the kitchen. Ruth  Anne and I looked at one another; Tom asked from his office, "What was that?" We all shrugged. A little while later, I went in the kitchen to stir the chili on the stove and was stopped in my tracks. In the middle of the cooktop was a green bottle cap from Tom's salad dressing bottle that was in the sink to be washed out. She loved jumping on the counter and playing with whatever was in the sink!

Ruth Anne and I ran an errand yesterday. As I went to pick up my keys, one of the pendants I have hanging from it was separated from the rest of the key ring. There was no opening on any of the rings nor on the "Broadway" pendant.

We looked at each other and said "Whoa."

 

Tom and I woke up at 6am this morning feeling chilly. We 'accused' each other of 'stealing' the comforter. Jamie would wake us up early morning to get fed or even if she had food left in her dish, to have company. Neither Tom nor I had the comforter on our side of the bed. There was one corner of the comforter on the corner of the bed; the rest of the comforter was in a kind of 'nest' on the floor in front of the bureau. I remembered we had taken a photo of her on the blanket in front of the bureau. I found this photo from February of 2021:

We are heartbroken that we no longer experience the precious gift of her physical presence but she is letting us know she is still with us from the other side.

Oh how we miss you Jamie but you sure are sending us a lot of signs to help bring us comfort.

As my friend Jenn Solomon said, "Grief is love with nowhere to go."

We are wrapping ourselves in the blessing of love you left in our hearts to heal the ache of the absence of your physical presence.

From my heart to yours,
In health and wellness,
Mary

Be sure to visit my website at https://marymcmanus.com to learn about my journey to health and wellness in the wake of paralytic polio and trauma

Visit the News and Events tab to listen to my inspiring and uplifting interviews

My books to motivate, uplift and inspire you are available on Amazon 

Into the Light: Emerging From the 2020 Pandemic

 

 

After every book I wrote, I felt as though I did not have another book to write...until... the next one!

After I wrote "Hope is a Garden: Poems and Essays From the 2020 Pandemic," I did not think I had another book to write until I started feeling the promptings of Spirit. I signed off of my blog Adventures of Runnergirl in October of 2020. I started this blog, "Hope is a Garden,": in April of 2021. The posts and poetry became the foundation for "Into the Light: Emerging From the 2020 Pandemic." On Wednesday, I designed the cover, submitted the manuscript to KDP, the self-publishing platform I use, and ordered the proof to begin the next editing phase. It's always a thrill to hit the 'submit' moving ever closer to publication.

Dedication and Acknowledgments:

 

“Into the Light: Emerging From the 2020 Pandemic” is lovingly dedicated to my husband Tom and our twins, Ruth Anne and Autumn. The tapestry of love woven tight in our family helped us to navigate the turbulent times of the pandemic meeting all challenges with humor, unconditional love, and maintaining our connection via the Signal app.

 

I want to acknowledge and thank:

 

My husband Tom for his constant support giving me the time and space for my creative process.

 

David R. Hamilton, Ph.D., and Bernie Siegel, MD, two wonderful teachers I have been blessed to know who have nurtured and supported my journey of healing and transformation. Their wisdom shined a guiding light as we navigated the uncharted waters of a post-pandemic world.

 

Our wonderful village with whom we share the miles on and off the roads. We support each other through the trials and celebrate resilience, strength and triumphs meeting life’s challenges together. 

 

Book Description:  

"As you begin reading “Into the Light: Emerging From the 2020 Pandemic” you will be drawn into Mary McManus’ unique perspective of experiencing a world pandemic as one who contracted paralytic polio in one of the last epidemics in the United States. Mary’s revelations about her struggles with whether or not to receive the vaccine despite sharing on the local news she planned to receive it after her husband received his, reveals Mary's tender heart and ability to be vulnerable. She shares how the pandemic unearthed traumatic memories from her tumultuous childhood after polio and will leave you asking the question, “How has Mary been able to live life with an attitude of gratitude, hope, optimism and faith after all the challenges she endured.” Mary’s poetry and essays chronicling 18 months of emerging from the 2020 pandemic is woven with her valiant and inspiring story of healing her life after the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome in December 2006."

 

About the Author: 

 

Mary McManus, motivational speaker,  author and poet, 2009 Boston Marathon finisher, polio and trauma survivor has a remarkable story of resilience, healing, hope and possibilities. Mary refused to take the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome sitting down. Her pen became her divining rod for healing harnessing the power of the mind/body connection through poetry. She embarked on a journey that took her from  leaving behind her award winning career as a VA social worker, to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon, and many adventures as a woman transformed through the sport of running.   

 

If you are thinking about writing a book and telling your story, may you be inspired by my books and this powerful quote from Maya Angelou:

From my heart to yours,
In health and wellness,
Mary

Be sure to visit my website at https://marymcmanus.com to learn about my journey to health and wellness in the wake of paralytic polio and trauma

Visit the News and Events tab to listen to my inspiring and uplifting interviews

My books to motivate, uplift and inspire you are available on Amazon

Hope is a Garden

 

 

We started planting tomatoes when Ruth Anne was taking an Environmental Science course in her junior year of high school. I didn't feel particularly connected to gardening or growing our own food because I was caught up in working full time and managing our household while supporting our twins on their life journey. When Ruth Anne started her volunteer gig at ReVision Urban Farm, we purchased seedlings to have our own vegetable garden. During the pandemic, we planted tulips and created a flower garden for the first time since we moved into our home 24 years ago. When we planted the garden in October of 2020, I was inspired to write the title poem of my book, 'Hope is a Garden: Poems and Essays From the 2020 Pandemic":

 

Hope Is A Garden  

 

Dirt stained knees

spade turning over soil

feelings flutter

tenderly tilling the earth

lovingly placing bulbs

embodiment of expectations and hope.

 

Hope is a garden

holding seeds in hand

awe-some

everything they need to know

ready to burst forth.

 

Patience and perseverance

faith abides

kneeling

knowing no prayers needed

all unfurls in Divine Timing.

 

In darkness hope stirs

light pierces through

as new life breaks ground

yet invisible to the eye

seeds of infinite possibilities

hope the harvest of imagination.

 

We decided to go with a flower and herb garden this year instead of vegetables, purchasing our farm fresh vegetables directly from ReVisiona Urban Farm at their Farm stand on Thursdays. We bought seedlings in May and have been in awe watching our garden grow. There is a drought in Massachusetts. We use the water that is collected by our de-humidifiers to water the garden. It's the first time we've grown sunflowers. I've seen them fully grown in other people's gardens or fields but have not had the privilege to watch them slowly unfurl their magnificent flowers. The process reminds me of how everything occurs in Divine Timing. The magic happens when we trust nature with whatever endeavors we may pursue.

It is so easy to become impatient and ask "why hasn't this happened yet?" I hit the STOP button when I find myself thinking that way. I take a deep breath and say, "Just look at the magnificence that happens in nature in its own pace and timing. Nothing is forced. What incredible beauty is revealed deep in the mysteries and magic of all that is unseen. Possibilities happen in the unknown."

I am celebrating 15 years of healing since the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome and in the wake of the once devastating effects of trauma and paralytic polio. There are always going to be challenging times, especially with the pandemic, but with an attitude of gratitude and opening up my heart to grace I allow my own beauty to unfold as I continue to heal. I allow poetry to flow through me and send powerful messages of healing, hope and infinite possibilities out into the world through my books and social media posts. 

I meditate in our garden feeling a connection to hope despite all the headlines. I allow hope and optimism, gratitude, grace, love and joy to grow deep in my heart being One with all that is. 

Look closely and see the beginning of the sunflower opening up among these magnificent marigolds:

 

 

 

 

We have an herb basket filled with mint, chamomile, basil, and lemongrass.

 

What seeds do you plant in your heart to blossom and grow into kindness, joy, love, beauty, hope, optimism, light, compassion and gratitude? Do you weed out thoughts of anger, judgment, resentment, unworthiness, lack and jealousy?

Here's to healing, hope and infinite possibilities in your garden of life!

From my heart to yours,
In health and wellness,
Mary

Be sure to visit my website at https://marymcmanus.com to learn about my journey to health and wellness in the wake of paralytic polio and trauma

Visit the News and Events tab to listen to my inspiring and uplifting interviews

My books to motivate, uplift and inspire you are available on Amazon

Hope & Resilience

 

On Monday Broadway World announced that, because of the toll that the pandemic was taking on cast and company, Jagged Little Pill, would be ending its Broadway run. I reached out to my Voices of Hope Boston family and we shared in the heartbreak while also sharing in a sense of hope that, as Greg Chastain said, 'Talent always lands on its feet."

As I thought about what to write after Jagged closed, my theme was going to focus on how we have all learned through the pandemic to seize the day. I was going to wait until 'things got better' to go see Jagged next Spring and I am so grateful that I followed Spirit's promptings to go with Voices of Hope in November. There would not have been a show to see in the Spring. I've learned to generate more compassion and kindness in my interactions with my family and friends, placing in check seeing people and situations through the lens of judgment. We never know when something might end.

Kathryn Gallagher who played Bella Fox in Jagged, was a guest on Stars in the House. She shared how her face reflected that she had been crying all day after receiving the news that her last performance was on December 17th. The show had closed for a few days due to the high rate of positive COVID tests and made the painful decision to not reopen. During the interview she shared how she had a sense that the show might close. During what came to be her last performance, she said she thought about what if this would be her last show. She took in every moment and looked at every seat in the audience. While she shared how she and the members of the company were heartbroken, one could sense her strength and resilience through the pangs of grief.

While once again feeling the sense of loss and uncertainty as a pandemic variant sweeps across the globe, I hold onto hope and light. After all, it IS Christmas - a time for hope, love, light and miracles. 

Sean Allan Krill posted on Facebook: 

Got to see my dear friend Kathy Voytko go on as Marian in The Music Man on Broadway tonight, and she was absolutely incredible. With virtually no rehearsal, she never missed a beat, never made a false move, looked, sang, and danced like a dream, made me laugh and broke my heart. She’s a STAR. The real deal. And so is the show. The whole evening gave me hope in a very difficult, challenging time. And, okay, let’s hear it for swings, understudies & standbys, for cry-eye! They are kicking ass and keeping Broadway up and running right now.
PS Hugh Jackman was a dream in the show as well, and gave the sweetest, heartfelt curtain speech about Kathy, and all the swings on tonight.

Despite his own heartache, he went out to support his dear friend and support the theater community that pulses through every cell of his body.

I receive emails from Broadway World as part of maintaining my connection to my New York roots and especially during the pandemic to keep up with the news. When I first started this blog in the Spring and writing the sequel to Hope is a Garden, I thought by now we'd be celebrating the robust return of shows and events during the holiday season. I never imagined that there would be news of friends' parents in the hospital during Christmas with COVID this year or that shows would be closing. In the midst of it all there is light, hope, strength and remarkable resilience.

Broadway World shared a video and the transcript of what Hugh Jackman said during the curtain call at last night's show:

Hugh Jackman paid tribute last night to the "bedrock of Broadway" - understudies and swings while bringing forward Kathy Voytko who filled in for Sutton Foster on Thursday night in the Broadway show in a curtain call video captured on Instagram by Katherine Winter. Hugh told the audience "Kathy, when she turned up at work at 12 o'clock could have played any of 8 roles. It happened to be the leading lady. She found out at 12 noon today and at 1 o'clock she had her very first rehearsal as Marion Paroo. This is unprecedented. It's not only happening here at the Winter Garden...but all over Broadway. This is a time we've never known. We're in our 4th preview and we're all still learning, so swings and understudies have not had a chance to learn. They've watched from the corner of the room while we rehearse; while we get to practice over and over again. They just get to watch and write notes and then 5 hours before a performance they're told, you're on. All of these people here - the swings, and I'm emotional because it humbles me. The courage, the brilliance, the dedication, the talent. The swings, the understudies, they are the bedrock of Broadway."

The arts, especially musical theater are the bedrock of our lives. They take us through the entire range of human emotions and have the power to transform us. The collective experience of live theater bonds strangers together as time and space suspend during the performance. Musical theater has the power to make us laugh and cry and be in a state of awe immersing ourselves in another world.

If we look at what's happening right now, it would be easy to get drawn into the vortex of darkened theaters with shows and events cancelled due to the pandemic. But there is always a ghost light that stays on. That ghost light is our beacon of hope and resilience. We have vaccines, strength, resilience, faith and protocols to manage this phase of the pandemic. We have love to uphold us and heal us. We know we can do this. The show must go on!

From my heart to yours

In health and wellness,

Mary

Be sure to visit my website at https://marymcmanus.com to learn about my journey to health and wellness in the wake of paralytic polio and trauma

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