Well, we did it. Although I have walked the 26.2 miles of the Boston Marathon several times and biked it last year with my son Sam, I was not at all sure how difficult it was going to be pushing Linda this year.
For those of you who do not know her, Linda Stranieri is one of the most ambitious, determined people you might ever meet. Though she has multiple sclerosis, it clearly has not affected her spirit, her determination and her will power. She used to scuba dive when growing up and volunteered to go balloon-jumping last fall (pilot died unfortunately).
At one Nobles school assembly, I asked if anyone else would be interested in joining me. Fortunately, Mark Sheeran (Nobles French Teacher and long-time Lakers fan) came forward to help. Subsequently, Sarah Snyder (and her daughter Abby) signed up to help us. Without the three of them, this dream that Linda and I had never could have come true. You should have seen Abby setting the pace for all of us!
I was advised by Linda Stranieri's physical therapist, Lucille, that Linda should only be on the road for a few hours. Lucille was not sure how the wheelchair would hold up and how wearing on the road the trip would be for Linda.
We left shortly after 10:32 (magic time) from the Newton/Wellesley area. Each of us took turns pushing Linda, but I gave up shortly after the second Heartbreak Hill. It was clear to me that pushing Linda was very tough on my own back and that there was no way I could do this without Sarah, Abby and Mark. Without question, I gained a renewed respect for the style of the fast breaking Lakers -- Mark himself has run more marathons than the Lakers have won championships!
Because we were a few hours ahead of the runners, most of the roads were incredibly open for us through Newton and Brookline. Abby and I stopped at the Dunkin Donuts by Cleveland Circle, a tradition I have followed in every marathon I have "competed" in.
The most unbelievable part of the marathon was the final 15 minutes when we got past Kenmore Square. Mark and Abby were doing most of the pushing while Sarah and I were trying to get the crowd going. Because the crowd was anticipating the lead runners about to finish, they were psyched to root Linda and her entourage. We kept anticipating the BAA folks asking us (or telling us) to get onto the sidewalk. It didn't happen. The crowd started chanting Linda, Linda, Linda as Sarah pointed the Celtics finger with The Boston Home sign. I waved the Larry Bird doll with the Laker jersey in true ML Carr style!
The finish was spectacular. Linda (having the high standards that she does) wrote me a NoblesNet note regretting the fact the she did not actually cross the real finish line. I assured her that our journey down Boylston Street with the crowds cheering and the entire street to ourselves was as close to our 10 minutes of Andy Warhol fame that any of us the five of us might ever have.
Once we crossed the finish line, we were allowed to sit in a VIP section and watch the rest of the finishers. A former student (Staz, Kristin Stasiowski) now at NYU had sent me a crown to put on Linda's head once she finished. We crowned Linda and took the final few pictures!
I also told Linda in a restaurant afterwards (as we celebrated with a marathon beer) that this was to be her first and not last marathon. My hope is that we can build on this Worthy effort (scary to be using Lakers metaphors) in the next few years. As I told Mark, it would be great to get several Boston Home residents, perhaps even with Mariah Carey pushing Wayne Jordan across the finish line and spoon-feeding him yogurt on Boylston Street!
32 pictures of our magical marathon tour can be found by clicking on Boston Home on the web page of www.teachingcompany.com
Thanks once again for your contribution. Although I need to speak directly with Betty Shea, we are planning to use the $2,100 from the pledges to buy a good quality printer and Windows 95 computer running Dragon Dictate (voice synthesis software). More details in my next Boston Home update note. Thanks again.
Steve
For those of you not at Nobles, you can mail to me at Steve Bergen, Noble and Greenough School, 10 Campus Drive, Dedham MA 02026. If you are writing a check, please make it out to The Boston Home Computer Lab
P.S. Still looking for someone who has a contact with Mariah Carey in the music business!
What follows is a collection of e-mail letters sent from many famous people (except for Mariah Carey)
(1)
Kristin Stasiowski,ks202@is5.nyu.edu,Internet writes:
Hi Linda!
First, let me wish you the best of luck with the marathon. I hope you get a good night's rest!
My name is Kristin Stasiowski (Staz) and I graduated from Nobles two years ago. Steve Bergen, my former teacher, told me about your efforts to raise money for the Boston Home Computer Lab by participating in the marathon on Monday. Last week I sent Mr. Bergen this really 'special' gold crown that I received last year when I was a freshman at NYU (where I am now a sophomore). The crown has a sort of 'history' to it, and is important to me because it was given to me by a friend last year when I stood up for myself and 'spoke my voice' (I sort of learned a life lesson). Basically, I was acting Brave, and my friend thought that that bravery was worthy of a crown-hence the crown. Anyway, I gave it to Mr. Bergen for similar reasons, and I am hoping that he remembers to bring it with him to the marathon tomorrow so that you can wear it at the finish line. After all, everyone who has bravery in their blood is royal by my standards!
I hope that the weather is good and that you enjoy the day! Remember: “Inch by Inch, anything's a cinch!”
Go for the Gold, Kristin
(2)
Here is the note that Wayne sent after seeing the Forrest Gump picture that we made for him of Mariah Carey spoon-feeding him yogurt!
Wayne_Jordan@nobles.edu writes:
Got your mail today and with Betty's help was able to see me and Mariah or was it Amy or Emily? Any way have to things to say (1) thanks for the photo and (2) yes you have my permission to do what you asked . Also thank the girls for helping with my fantasy of the yogurt.
peace out
Wayne Jordan
(3)
Here is the note that Mariah sent Wayne from Denver and his response
Mariah_Dickson@ceo.cudenver.edu writes:
Hi, Wayne
My name is Mariah Dickson and I am a friend of Steve Bergen. I now live in Denver. Steve has told me of your fantasy of Mariah Carey spoon-feeding you yogurt. If I am ever back in Boston, I might just connect with Steve and come out to the Boston Home and do that for you. I used to teach at Nobles with Steve.
-- Mariah Dickson
(4)
Wayne_Jordan@nobles.edu writes:
Printed mariahs letter. I can't wait to see her. would i be safe in assuming she knows i can't eat. Sent a brief thank you to the people who kicked in the green backs how is camden, Amy, and my other chow pal [smile] doing ... talked with Amy and Emily via the chat box... it was pretty good first time ... i used it it as like a phone call ...while i was sitting there by the mac it said someone's inviting you to chat and i boogied up to the ok and hit the mouse and we talked for a bit
(5)
Here is Betty's thanks from the Boston Home
Betty_Shea@nobles.edu writes:
A group of us here have been watching the pictures of the Marathon, and learned of the impressive amount of donations from the Nobles community. We want to thank the walkers and pushers, and we also want to thank the donors for all their efforts in our behalf.
--Marcia Jason, Diane Lenay, Michele Hurley, Carl Fabbri, Fred Holway, Phyllis Mann, Tony LaFauci, Clarence McDaniel, Edith Jacobs, Bob Devereux
(6)
And last goes to Linda herself who should be proud of her first of many marathons!
Linda_Stranieri@nobles.edu writes:
Hi Steve, I appreciate your help along with Mark, Sarah, Abby at the marathon. It was an inspirational experience for me. I was disappointed that I was not able to cross the finish line - so near, and yet so far! Please elaborate on that experience. I feel so cheated. That doesn't mean I don't want to try again... with more planning. I await your reply. :) Goodbye for now!
--LINDA STRANIERI