A Touch and a Smile

Today the girls team started running early in the morning close to Pensacola, Florida. We had about 41 miles to run, about 8 miles each. The road we ran on was really nice with very little traffic and a very beautiful landscape.

For me it's amazing to imagine that we bring the torch from place to place, not by driving, not by flying, but by running. We run all the way through all the states bringing the torch from one person to the next.

While I was running today, a man stopped me to ask what we are running for and I told him that we are running for harmony in the world. I asked him if he wanted to hold the torch and make a wish for world harmony. He held the torch and smilingly said "I pray for peace in the world."

I kept on running and a woman on the roadside stopped me and asked for the purpose of the run and I told her the same. She held the torch and said, "I wish there would be peace in the world and more harmony among the people." She smiled at me and said, "good luck" and went on her way.

I really feel that when people touch the torch and smile at me, the purpose of my running is totally fulfilled.

Anja

Germany

A Jazzy Time

Our journey started out of Pensacola Florida and we headed west crossing over a bay to reach Mobile Alabama. The downtown area was quite nice and you could see that there were also a lot of interesting renovations going on around the city.

We had an appearance to make at Brown Bag in Bienville—a “jazz in the park” program—that was going on downtown at Bienville Square. Two excellent musicians were playing music when we arrived with the torch. This program is intended for people taking their lunch breaks in the city. The park was about the size of one square city block, it had a gazebo and a fountain. There were some vendors advertising their fare and selling fresh strawberries, flowers and other items. There were three police officers sitting atop their horses surveying the area who gladly held the torch and posed for a photo.

We made an entrance to the park as a team carrying the Harmony Torch. There were two news affiliates present taking video of the whole event. Gina Gregory(pictured above)—the Mobile Public Relations Director— offered a proclamation in the name of the mayor declaring this day World Harmony Run Day in the city of Mobile. We were presented with pins that were inscribed with the name of their city, Mobile, and towels that were embroidered with “Mobile, Alabama”. It was very nice to receive these gifts from the city as a token of their appreciation for our passing through their home.

After the small ceremony the team had a chance to walk around the park and talk with people about their participation in the World Harmony Run; and to share the torch allowing people to hold it and make a positive wish for the world. I talked to a mother who was walking her toddler daughter through the park and answered a few of her questions by simply explaining how I was involved with the run. She was surprised that we were all taking so much time to participate in the World Harmony Run. I am only with the team for two weeks but some of the runners may continue for almost four months on the road which is really a huge amount of time and dedication. She asked me if we were in college or high school because it was so amazing to her that an ordinary adult would be able to participate in an event such as the World Harmony Run.

When people come out like Erik described above during their busy day to greet us or just to ask questions about our run, we are so delighted. The purpose of our run is to inspire others to think about harmony in their own lives and to offer enthusiasm and eagerness for harmony and oneness in a friendly, dynamic and healthy way. Gina Gregory and Angela Gibbons(pictured above with her daughter)—Assistant Special Events Coordinator—, the two women who organized the wonderful reception we had in Mobile, are perfect examples of this oneness and harmony. We are also grateful to Stacey McQuarter of the Inn on the Hill in Hattiesburg, Mississippi for offering us 4 rooms to stay in last night.

Thanks also to all the folks at Sakura Japanese Restaurant in Hattiesburg for offering the entire team a fabulous meal. These kind gifts are extremely helpful to us as we travel over 90 miles a day on foot with the World Harmony Torch.

Erik and Arpan

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