Boarding the plane to Philadelphia was one of many steps I’d take over the next 4 days in the amazing journey called the 3 Day. The anticipation of the walk was nothing short of pure excitement. I would get to see friends I hadn’t seen in quite some time and I was going to tackle a major physical challenge.
We arrived at the hotel without incident. I carefully prepared my waist pack and gear for the next morning. Walkers were to arrive at the Willow Grove Mall between 5:30-6am. My head finally hit the pillow a few minutes before 1am and I was asleep before I had a chance to think about the days that laid ahead. When the alarm went off at 4, I jumped out of bed and was eager to get the day started. As I showered that morning my mind raced with curiosity about the new experiences I’d soon get to face. I thought about everything from the gorgeous things we’d get to see along the walk to what the mobile showers would be like that evening. Before I knew it, it was time to meet Cheryl, Colleen, and Chris in the hotel lobby.
As I stepped off the elevator I was greeted by Chris in her tiara, tiara earrings, and pink boa. The hotel lobby was bustling with other 3 Day walkers waiting to be shuttled to the Opening Ceremonies. Chris had an extra tiara, belonging to Hanna, that I was happy to wear. I indulged in yogurt, donuts, and coffee while we waited for Colleen and Cheryl to join us. Chris shared pink ribbons that her daughter Lydia had made with several walkers in the breakfast area. The camaraderie had already begun. I proudly wore mine on my lanyard; a symbol of Lydia’s support for the next three days.
The lobby thinned out as the other walkers boarded the shuttle bus and Chris and I quickly grew anxious for Colleen and Cheryl’s arrival downstairs. I called them for a status check and we decided that Jeff would meet them at our room so they could stash their bags until the walk was over. We had agreed upon this prior to that morning, but in the excitement of it all I had forgotten. That decision would serve us well later that day, however at that point we had no idea.
Jeff packed our gear in the rental van and we headed to the mall. Chris had attended crew meetings with Pat the previous day and was our navigator that morning. Her knowledge of what to expect combined with my ability to go with the flow left me with a real sense of calm about the morning, even when faced with what Mother Nature handed us; it was dark, cold, and raining.
Jeff and Colleen dropped our bags off at gear truck E and we headed towards the smell of the Starbucks. On the way we stopped to grab free water bottles and ponchos. Next we headed to the check-in tent to get Colleen a protective sleeve for her credential. With that mission accomplished I was ready for the walk to get started. It didn’t work quite that quickly though. We made our way to the water tent and filled up our bottles with Gatorade. Little did we know the center of that tent is where the Starbucks was hiding. Thankfully Jeff had already figured that out and appeared out of nowhere with nice warm cups of java! In my excitement I spilled some down my arm and down the front of my shirt. Quite honestly though, I didn’t care.
After seeing the shower cap shoe protectors that Colleen, Cheryl, and Dana had to keep their feet warm and dry, Jeff crafted some for me out of the freebie ponchos we had been given that morning. The rain continued to come down and things were starting to get underway. The team gave Jeff a shopping mission - rain gear - and I kissed him goodbye. It was sometime during the morning we anointed him Team Husband.
The sun started to rise, yet it was masked behind dark rain clouds. 3000+ walkers stood in a holding area and listened as the Opening Ceremonies started. Quite honestly all that was said during that morning is just a blur to me now. I was too busy taking in all that was going on around me. Emotions were running high and raw. Tears flowed, yet smiles reigned supreme. Making our way to the chute, the official physical start of the journey, was slow. Unlike most crowds in this situation, everyone was patient and kind. Amazingly though, it was only the surface of the kindness and friendship that would be demonstrated over the next 72 hours.
