Scarf.

"With Love and Courage, we wrap you in Warmth."




Soft, warm, woolen warmth around my neck, cascading down the front of my jacket in the crisp, perfect, crystal, blue, blue sky in the shadow of the ancient brownstone church.  Sudden smells of hope and possibility; I instantly felt the tears on my face.  It was too much to take in.  Too much to wrap my head around.






There, in front of the Old South Church were over 7,000 hand knit scarves, all in blue and gold and all different, just like each and every one of us and our purposes, goals and lives.  Over 7,000 scarfs were being wrapped around every marathon runner who walked by the church.  The scarfs came from all over the world and were lovingly made with thoughts of hope and luck and support and sent to the church as part of their mission. 






I am not a religious person, but today there was so much emotion on Boyleston Street that it was tangible. 




Runners, runners everywhere and everywhere with scarfs.  Each one unique.  Each one nodding to the next, smiling at strangers, love, love, love and serenity.  Peaceful pavement.  It was slow and it was deliberate and it was surreal.  Today, every person was a friend of the other, today we all stood in the stunning sun.  Today was raw emotional power.  Today, we were gathering our strength. 




Today was finally what caught me, pausing to admire my scarf; interwoven blue and gold, cozy and warm and bright and strong.  This moment will never fall from my memory, it was simply too powerful and too much to articulate.


...


Driving home along the harbor there were two boats finally attached to their moorings on the sparkling sunshine water.  Happy greetings; it's all finally here, and it's all about to unfold.  Begin.