Two Tales of One City - Labor Day Weekend in Boston

The year was 1971 just about a month after my dad ended his life. My brother packed up the car with me and a couple of his friends and we drove to 700 Commonwealth Avenue also known as "The Zoo" back in the day as I entered my freshman year at Boston University.



I had a roommate from hell, well actually she was from Long Island, who had arrived before me. With her perfect pink manicured hands she decorated my half of our dorm room complete with plastic flowers pinned to my bulletin board. I'm sure she thought I was the roommate from hell as I cried unpacking my things and did not express gratitude to her that she had taken the time to decorate my half of the room and line the drawers of my dresser. She got the R.A., the Resident Assistant who was wonderful. I told her what happened and she told me that I could go to the Counseling Center on Tuesday. A group of us went out to eat at Ken's Steak House in Copley Square. My roommate from hell had decided that I just had to do something with my hair before we went out to eat though and didn't I have any make up to put on? What a start to my Boston adventure. I had the chef's salad with Russian Dressing. There was a familiar taste of New York comfort food that got me through until Tuesday.

Every year at this time the permanent residents of Boston begin to grumble. I used to grumble - a lot and bemoan the end of summer heralded by U Haul lined streets and students flooding "my city." The anniversary reaction of that Labor Day weekend now 43 years ago haunted me with a melancholy that began the week before Labor Day and continued well through the winter months.

While the residents of Boston grumble, the students arrive with equal parts eager anticipation and trepidation. Freshmen, after being at the top of the hill as high school seniors now feel that sense of smallness and uncertainty as they enter their new academic careers. Those returning to their campus home away from home are excited to be reunited with friends and classmates eager to regale their tales of summer. There is a bustle of activity that once used to annoy me but that now fills me with hope.

Rather than feel resentment and frustration over these next few weeks, I'll be sure to leave extra time to get from point A to point B as the population of our fair city swells. Tom and I will go to Gloucester on Saturday to pick up his bib for the Around the Cape 25K he is running on Monday. Sunday we will be sure to not cross the divide into the land of the students at Cleveland Circle and anything we need to do we will do on this side of Beacon Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

Even though I arrived in Boston as a freshmen with a heavy heart and over a decade of challenges with paralytic polio and domestic violence, I had a sense of hope that there was a life beyond what I had lived. Even through all of the pain and suffering, confusion and different paths I traveled, I kept that spark of hope alive. I am so glad I did so that I could arrive here now poised to enjoy Labor Day weekend joining together with the energy of hope as a new academic year, as a new season begins.

Boston may be two tales of one City over Labor Day Weekend but once the crazed frenzy of the weekend subsides, we settle into a rhythm that hopefully will yield an amazing harvest in the years to come.





"Wait, I have one more goal," Mary McManus told her personal trainer in February of 2008 shortly after coming out of her toe up leg brace. "I want to run the Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab Hospital." Mary traded in her polio shoes for running shoes and embarked on the journey of a lifetime. Mary McManus was at the height of her career as a VA social worker when she was told by her team at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital’s International Rehab Center for Polio in December of 2006 that she needed to quit her job if she had any hope of preventing the progression of post polio syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease. In “Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility” Mary takes you on her seven year healing odyssey as a survivor of paralytic polio and trauma from her diagnosis, to taking a leap of faith to leave her award winning career at the VA to heal her life and follow her passion as a poet and writer. You’ll experience her trials, tribulations and triumphs as she trains for and crosses the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and discovers the opportunity for healing in the wake of new trauma: the suicide of her nephew in 2011, and the aftermath of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. This is Mary's journey of coming home to her human form free from the influences of the ghastly ghostly invaders who had invaded her sacred earthly home. Her memoir includes journals and blog posts from her seven year healing odyssey. This is her journey of transformation and her message of healing, hope and possibility.

I donate 50% of royalty payments through on line sales to The One Fund to help Boston Marathon survivors and their families. Copies are also available at Brookline Marathon Sports. $5 of each book sold at Marathon Sports is donated to The One Fund.

Singing Boston Strong: Spotlight on Boston and Boston University

I came to Boston from Westchester, New York when I was 17 years old. I began my freshman year at Boston University in 1971, one month after my father ended his life. I lived at "The Zoo", 700 Commonwealth Avenue. I fell in love with the City and all the hope and possibility it offered to me. Like so many New Yorkers from Westchester or Long Island, we came to Boston and never left.

I graduated from the School of Public Communication, now COM in 1976 after being in Business, Liberal Arts, a brief stint at Northeastern University to become a lab tech and then I fell in love with Public Relations and writing. I had an amazing journalism professor, Bob Sales, who taught us how to write news stories on manual typewriters using an egg timer to help us meet "deadlines".

I was hired by Boston University's Counseling Center to do intake and PR. The director suggested I use my gifts of empathy and compassion to pursue a career in social work. One of my volunteer veterans who I supervised as a social worker at the VA was best friends with "The Admiral" Wendell Norman Johnson, "Norm" to his friends, who was the Dean of Students at Boston University. I returned to the BU Campus in May of 2007 to deliver a poetic tribute to Norm at his memorial service.

Fast forward to 2011 when my husband was running the Boston Marathon for Childrens Hospital. I approached Dean Elmore who had been very close friends with Norm about having an a cappella concert as a fund raiser. He was totally on board with it. He gave a rousing speech before the concert began about coming together as a community for a good old fashioned "barn raising". It was a rousing success - Signed, Sealed and Delivered we raised over $5,000 for Childrens Hospital.



When my friend Greg Gordon who is running the 2014 Boston Marathon as part of Spaulding's Race for Rehab team and I talked about doing a fund raiser for his Boston Marathon run, it made perfect sense for me to return to Boston University for an evening of a cappella. I knew that I did not have another marathon in me. Although I could not go the distance in miles, I could go the distance with putting together a fundraiser to benefit Spaulding Rehab Hospital. I was a member of their 2009 Race for Rehab team as a mobility impaired runner. That's when Greg and I first met.



The Boston Marathon has been a part of my life ever since I came to Boston in 1971 and in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings when Greg and I were together at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, I knew that I needed to take action to heal.

From my memoir, Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility:

We woke up early on April 15, 2013. You would have thought we were running the Boston Marathon again. Tom and I had a ‘perfect’ morning together enjoying the coverage on WBZ TV and leisurely making our way to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for a reunion with some of our Race for Rehab team members. Although I grew up in New York, I called Boston home since 1971 when I began my freshman year at Boston University. Following numerous orthopedic surgeries when I hobbled around on crutches, I would often joke, “No I’m not going to run the marathon this year, maybe next year.” Be careful what you say out loud to the Universe.

We rounded up 5 phenomenal a cappella groups who have been featured in my blog this week.

And one day, while I was on facebook, I saw a link that Boston University was going to select a team to run this year's Boston Marathon in honor of Lu Lingzi who was killed in the Boston Marathon Bombings. When I met with Dean Elmore a few weeks ago to talk about the concert, we agreed that having a moment of silence in honor of Lu was a crucial part of our program.

When I googled who was selected for the team, I discovered that Dan Mercurio who was friends with my children at Brookline High School was on the team. Here he is being interviewed by Ann Curry the day after the bombings:



Here is the link to the statements of the members of the team that are running in Lu's memory to raise money for a Scholarship Fund in her memory.

This Friday will be a time to celebrate, commemorate and raise money for Spaulding Rehab where many of the survivors of the bombing were able to find their strength and rebuild their lives after the tragedy of 4/15/13. I found my strength there a little over 7 years ago and continue to find my strength through their Aquatics Therapy program. We will come together as a community to heal through music and to inspire Greg and others who will be taking that 26.2 mile journey on 4/21/14. We will be Singing Boston Strong!

Donate to Greg's fund raising page and in the comments section write how many tickets you would like set aside. We will have them ready for you at the will call table. Minimum suggested donation/ticket is $10 to reserve your spot for one of the hottest a cappella shows Spring.

See you on Friday!

Singing Boston Strong: Spotlight on In Achord

When I reached out to Boston University's In Achord to invite them to lend their voices to Singing Boston Strong: An Evening of A Cappella to Benefit Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, they said that they remembered our 2011 a cappella concert Music for Miracles and would be delighted to donate their time and talent to the event.

From their website:

Who is In Achord?
Original Co-Ed A Cappella at Boston University Since 1990

Founded in 1990, In Achord is Boston University’s oldest co-ed a cappella group. The group is an annual host and competitor in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. In recent years, In Achord has received distinct awards for its arrangements, soloists, vocal percussion and choreography. The group is also hosts the Beanpot of A Cappella, an annual fundraiser that brings together college a cappella groups from all over Boston to raise money for for the Franciscan Hospital for Children.

In Achord was proud to celebrate its 20th anniversary in Spring 2011. When not singing, In Achord enjoys singing recreationally, listening to songs and talking about how we could be singing them and watching YouTube videos of people singing OH and harmonizing (we just can’t get enough). In Achord’s other interests include Thanksgiving dinner, Space Jam, cats, writing inappropriate website bios for new freshmen, and last but not least, bacon.

And on 3/2, they posted:

In case you have not already heard, In Achord won third place in what was referred to as the most competitive International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) Quarterfinal in the entire country at the Berklee College of Music on February 16, 2014.

Talented groups from all over the Northeast were scheduled to compete in the ICCA Quarterfinal at Berklee on Saturday, February 15, but due to extreme weather conditions the event was rescheduled for the following evening. Although the date change originally had us worried that family, friends, and fans who had been planning to attend the show on Saturday would not be able to make it on Sunday, everything worked out and we had a full crowd cheering us on.

In Achord’s impressive three-song set consisted of Downfall by Matchbox 20, Choices by Bernhoft, and Gypsy by Lady Gaga. We blew the audience and judges away with our outstanding soloists, complex arrangements, and fun choreography.

And on 4/6th you can find them singing the National Anthem at Fenway Park!

Here they are performing What Dreams Are Made Of:



Patients at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital have their dreams of finding their strength again and with your support, these dreams can come true!

Donate to Greg's fund raising page and in the comments section write how many tickets you would like set aside. We will have them ready for you at the will call table. Minimum suggested donation/ticket is $10.

See you on Friday!

Singing Boston Strong: Spotlight on The Dear Abbeys

Back in 2011, I had this vision for an a cappella concert to benefit my husband's Boston Marathon run for Childrens Hospital. We called it Music for Miracles. When I put out the call to BU a cappella groups to help create this event, the Dear Abbeys were first in line to help.




In February of 1992, three gentlemen gathered to change the course of aca-history. Their goal: to create an all-male a cappella group at Boston University. After several attempts—and a few close calls—the Dear Abbeys of Boston University were born.

The idea was simple: assemble a small group of men who enjoy music, camaraderie and “no show-tunes”, arrange popular songs for voice, and sing.

Now—over 20 years later—the Abbeys have gained a reputation in the a cappella community for musical precision, complex and unique arrangements and an energetic style of live performance that’s difficult to match.

After winning the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA’s) in 2005, the Abbeys have performed in stadiums, on street corners and everywhere in between. Their unique style is frequently heard at weddings, corporate events, charity functions, high schools, and the greater Boston community.

Most recently, the group has focused on sharing their talents with students around the country. The Abbeys aim to inspire, inform and entertain—introducing young thinkers to the arts with the hope of initiating positive change.

Since 2005, the group has toured the U.S. and beyond, traveling to New Orleans and New Mexico, Alaska and Colombia. In the past they have been so lucky as to team up with musical heavyweights like Steven Tyler, Ben Folds, NOTA, Pentatonix and Ball in the House.

To date, the Abbeys have produced eight studio albums, four of which can be purchased on iTunes.

And when I put out the call for Singing Boston Strong: An Evening of A Cappella to Benefit Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital



The Abbeys said yes!!!



Here's their fun music video with a smash up of Toxic and Hold It Against Me



Donate to Greg's fund raising page and in the comments section write how many tickets you would like set aside. We will have them ready for you at the will call table. Minimum suggested donation/ticket is $10.

See you on Friday!

Singing Boston Strong: Spotlight on Terpsichore

One week from tonight we will be raising our voices and a lot of money as 5 premier Boston area a cappella groups Sing Boston Strong to Benefit Spaulding Rehab Hospital.



Between now and next Friday, I will feature each of the 5 groups who have generously agreed to donate their time and talent to our event.

First up is Boston University's Premimer All Female A Cappella group and our host for the evening Terpsichore



Just this week they dropped their album, "25" on iTunes.

From their home page:
Terpsichore (terp-sik-oh-ree) is Boston University's premier all-female a cappella group, established in 1989. Affectionately known as "Terps," these girls are the finest group of windpipes you'll ever meet. From Maroon 5 to Kimbra, Terpsichore's repertoire is full of favorites. Visit their facebook page for up-to-date information on where to catch them performing!

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @BUterpsichore

OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY SPRING CONCERT:
Friday April 25th, 7:30pm 725 Commonwealth Ave

Terpsichore provided front of the house support when we had our Music for Miracles concert at Boston University in 2011. They said that if ever I did another a cappella benefit concert, they would like to perform.

When I contacted them last Fall to propose Greg's Boston Marathon Fundraiser, they were totally on board and offered to host the event. There is a lot more that goes into hosting besides just showing up on the night of the event and welcoming everyone. There is paperwork and coordination and wading through the wonderful BU bureaucracy. Terps brought it in every way for Spaulding Rehab.

We are so blessed that they are lending their voices to Singing Boston Strong next Friday.

Here they are performing Landslide:



Donate to Greg's fund raising page and in the comments section write how many tickets you would like set aside. We will have them ready for you at the will call table. Minimum suggested donation/ticket is $10.

See you on Friday!