As you read this the 2025 Boston Marathon is only days away. When athletes get ready to compete, they build up nervous energy and adrenalin to prepare for the event they are about to complete. Dad was no different. When waiting at the start line of every race he would check Rick’s chair once, twice, three times... He would tie and retie his shoes. He would go to the van and make sure Rick’s clothes for after the race were out and ready, and he would walk. He would take short powerful walks to burn off a little energy but not too much. Rick knew this routine well and at some events the energy was higher than others. Rick even knew when it was coming - like at their first Marine Corps Marathon, Rick knew Dad was geared up and he had an idea to help break the tension. He had his Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) dress him in full military fatigues and cover him in a blanket. When Dad came back from one of his “power walks” he pulled the blanket off, he saw Rick in his military get up which made him smile and his tension melted away, he relaxed and they ran well that day. This tension built for Dad one year in Boston more than any other. It was 1993 the year Rick graduated from Boston University. The interview requests leading up to Boston were tripled from the year before and stories of the first non-verbal quadriplegic to ever complete a degree and graduate with a Bachelor’s degree were everywhere.
Given all this attention and knowing how important this marathon was to Rick, Dad was building lots of adrenalin. The morning of April 19, 1993 Dad checked Rick’s chair not once, twice or even three times… he checked it 7 times! Rick smiled because he had a plan to break the tension. When Dad took off for his second “power walk” Rick had my brother Rob and I put on his clever outfit and then cover him with a blanket. When Dad got back, he removed the blanket to reveal Rick wearing his bright red graduation gown from BU! It covered Rick from his neck to his toes in bright red! Dad stepped back and not only smiled but he laughed out loud and the tension melted away, he relaxed, and they ran well that day.
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