My dear friend from college and beyond, Liz, ran the New York Marathon today. It is her first marathon. And she said to us afterwards, collapsing in her husband’s arms, wrapped in silver mylar, “NEVER AGAIN.” So I suppose I should say that this may also be her LAST marathon.
But she DID it. She has always wanted to do it, and she DID it. A couple of years ago, on my birthday, she and I wrote out To Do Lists. These were not To Do lists along the lines of: “I have to start exercising, I have to get my car fixed…” We focused on a more cosmic level. Things that we feel we HAVE to do before we die. Things that HAVE to happen. And “running a marathon” was on Liz’s list. I’m thrilled for her. I’m also glad that it’s over. I’m glad it’s over for her sake, but I’m also glad it’s over because I need to just sit the HELL DOWN. I have been on my feet for 9 hours straight.
A terrific day. A day where I was proud to be a New Yorker. A day where I was in love with everybody. I looked around, and all I saw was everybody’s goodness.
Tomorrow will come, and that clarity and piercing poignancy will fade, but that was what I felt today. A piercing sense of love for everybody.
Congratulations, Liz…YOU DID IT.
