Today was an unusual day for us. It was not a normal scheduled day off although it was a break from running. Because our route through the United States, or at least the contiguous 48 states, has to be run within a four month period, I try to make it as direct as possible through most of the states. This means that in some states we cut through a corner of a section in order to get to another state that we may just run through for many days. We were in Montana for a week but we only ran in North Dakota for less than a day, then South Dakota for five days and Nebraska for less than a day. When we arrived in Sioux City Iowa yesterday, we were to spend only a day running through the northwestern corner of it into Minnesota.

We delayed that run for a day in order to drive into Des Moines which is 200 miles to the south and east. Since it is not on our route due to its location, we were not scheduled to run there. But we had to go there to visit our good friend and staunch supporter of the World Harmony Run, John Dion. John and his colleague, Georgia Pierson, prepared to have us in Des Moines to meet some children’s groups and get some media coverage.

John also has done so much for us to get on the road and to support us once we were on the road. He is a hard working businessman who also has a huge heart when it comes to his selfless support of worthwhile causes. Even though John is in his 70’s, he thinks, acts and looks like a man much younger than that.

After our long morning drive to John’s company called, Data Input Services, John and

Georgia took us to a huge and delicious ‘all you can eat’ buffet called the Old Country Buffet. Tarell Wilson, the Manager, was so kind in giving us a big discount on the meals that John so generously offered to us.

After getting quite stuffed, we had to go meet some children at the local park, called Bailey Park. But before we left the buffet, we noticed a group of about 27 children and their chaperones eating at the same restaurant. They were a group called ‘Kids West’ as part of the West Des Moines school district. Jenny and Carmen and other staff were very kind to organize the children outside the restaurant for us for an impromptu ceremony and photo. The children and adults were very excited as they were able to hold the Torch with us and offer goodwill for us to carry onto Minnesota tomorrow. Their bus driver even wanted to get a Torch for the children to take back with them.

Moving on to Gray’s Lake Park where we were supposed to meet another group of children, it started to rain as we were waiting by the lake. The temperature had been soaring and the rain was very comforting in bring down the temperature and keeping the hot sun away for a while. But the rain must have driven away the children as they were nowhere to be found. But we did find the FOX-TV news reporter and cameraman that were looking for us there. They filmed the runners running by the Lake and coming to meet some other people who so kindly came out in the rain to meet us.

Melinda and Dunny were told by John about us coming into town and they very enthusiastically greeted us at the Lake. We are so glad that they were able to greet us and even come later to join us for dinner at John’s house.

Jeannie and Carol also showed up at John’s to meet us and have dinner with us. We are always grateful when people go out of their way to come share with us the inspiration for harmony and oneness that we are all striving for.

Visiting the Fairfield Inn and Suites that John had arranged for the women to stay at for the night, we were fortunate enough to meet Suzy Curran, the very friendly and enthusiastic Sales Manager who offered the two beautiful suites for our runners. She held the torch with us as we took a group photo and she offered her sincere gratitude for the opportunity to be with us. We feel the same about Suzy and wish her the best.

John cooked us a fantastic gourmet meal in the evening with Georgia setting things up for us and their other guests to enjoy. We watched a new video of the World Harmony Run that we had done from May 25 to the end of June prepared by Salil, our Executive Director. While watching the video of where we had been in the past weeks and months, it seemed like ages ago that we were so lovingly welcomed by the great people who shared these sentiments of harmony and oneness with us. But the memories of all those who have welcomed us into their communities and homes and places of work and accommodations all make up the World Harmony Run and its progress towards a better, safer and happier world.

Our special thanks again today goes to John Dion and his wonderful friend and colleague Georgia Pierson for making our detour out into the center of Iowa a truly memorable and meaningful one.

Arpan and the team

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