We drove through the drizzling rain and with great difficulty found a parking spot in downtown Ann Arbor. We saw the roads blocked ahead and heard people cheering. We rushed to the crowd and saw the first runners crossing the finish line. We put up the umbrella, focused the camera . . . and waited with our eyes peeled — waiting for the familiar faces. Some of our favorite people in the world would soon crest the hill and we wanted to be ready.
I knew the kids would be with them, pushed in the jogging tricycle. In that family the kids never get left behind. And running with them was Anna's younger sister Catherine.
They didn't come in 1st, 2nd or even 3rd, but in our minds they were the champs — and with those winning smiles Janet and I say they were the winners.
(Pictures: Anna (light blue T-shirt) & Catherine (white T-shirt with red shorts) pushing Maria Faustina and Samuel Tarcisius toward the finish line; Jesse's back as he races for the finish line dressed in blue; and all of them with winning smiles and glad it is over.)
Well, I may pat myself on the back a little (and Janet's back too) but Jesse is Jesse and he gets the credit for who he is — being sensitive to God and devoted to what is holy, right, and beautiful. I pat HIM on the back.
Emily and I plan to join them in the 10k run next year — Lord willing.