New England Runner

Momma, Look Sharp

from 1776 

 

Courier:
Momma, hey momma, come lookin' for me
I'm here in the meadow by the red maple tree
Momma, hey momma, look sharp, here I be
Hey, hey, momma look sharp

Them soldiers, they fired. Oh ma, did we run
But then we turned round and the battle begun
Then I went under, oh ma, am I done?
Hey, hey, momma look sharp

My eyes are wide open, my face to the sky
Is that you I'm hearin' in the tall grass nearby?
Momma come find me before I do die
Hey, hey, momma look sharp

All:
I'll close your eyes, my Billy
Them eyes that cannot see
And I'll bury you, my Billy
Beneath the maple tree

Courier:
And never again will you whisper to me
Hey, hey, momma look sharp

 

Today I am thankful to be living in Boston.  While my address may not say Boston proper, this is where I have made my home for the last four years.  Boston & I had a rough start - we didn't always agree or get along.  When I left my second home in Virginia, I was excited to be embarking on this new journey, one in which I would be attending graduate school at Boston University and moving to a city rich and deep in American history.  I have been in love with Independence & the Revolution for as long as I can remember.  And I have always wanted to make John Adams my husband.  But Boston was a little tough and I had a hard time adjusting. 

Today I am thankful to be a runner.  Running has been my saving grace for the last 6 years.  It has become part of who I am. I've been depressed lately because I have allowed things to keep me from getting out there. 

Today I am thankful to be a runner in Boston.  I've been wanting to write about the New England running community for quite some time.  For to talk about running in New England is to define the heart of the Boston Marathon:  it's a community (a runner's community).  As I mentioned earlier Boston & I didn't get along, but after many long runs around the Charles River, Boston started to grow on me.  More road races all throughout New England and in the last year, Boston & I have become friends.  Throughout the winter at many of these races, I know many of the runners I encountered were in training for their big race.  I attended my first Boston Marathon with my sister Brooke and my yet to be born nephew.  Watching the runners crossing the finish line, I couldn't help but think if that could be me one day.  But I had vowed that I wouldn't ever run a full marathon (boy will I be fooled in November).  And now I actually want to run it one day - for me and my running community. 

 

Today, my heart was lifted to see runners along the Charles - in my heart -  I know that soon I will be back up to joining them.