Today was a very busy day which saw us visit four schools and run relays with the Torch in between three of them. We ran to the first school in Clearwater, called the Blossom Montessori School for the Deaf. It is one of only two Montessori schools in the country for the deaf. We were joined there by some of our local friends from the Tampa area, Tilvila, who arranged all of our ceremonies and meals, and Ahana, Norma, Terry, and Linda, who ran with the Torch today as well as take part in the ceremonies. It was our largest team on the trip so far.

This Montessori school was unique and incredibly heart-warming. Julie Rutenberg, the Principal, and Carol Downing, the head teacher, were very excited to have us at the school to share our experiences with the children. Most of the children could not hear or were hard of hearing, but some of the students were siblings and could hear normally. It was a wonderful mix of hearing abilities and ages combined with incredible adeptness at signing, the language of the deaf.

Everyone could sign here and we even learned some words in that language. It is like an art form, a very creative dance of hand and body movements which speaks very clearly to all those who know the language. Offering our experiences while everything was being translated mostly by Carol, was a challenging and at the same time a very rewarding experience. Over the years some of us have visited many, many schools and have had memorable experiences at most of them. But our unique experiences at this school have touched our hearts and minds deeply and we shall never forget our morning there at the Blossom school.

As we started our run to the next school, the temperature was rising as the sun beat down on the hot pavement all along the route. We finally made it to the Wellington School in Seminole, the next town over. Cindy Moon, the Director of the Wellington Schools, and Linda Mileski, the Principal of this school, helped to arrange this exciting reception as the children lined the sidewalks into the school, cheering the runners on as we carried the torch into the auditorium.

The children started the program with the Pledge of Allegiance and performed America the Beautiful, beautifully, I might add. There was some poetry and singing and finally all the children had a chance to hold the Torch and offer their wishes, prayers and goodwill. Some of the young children were very thoughtful and grateful and one very young girl was so moved that she very sincerely hugged one of our runners after she held the torch.

Directly after this Wellington School, we hurried to another Wellington School, the upper school for the older children on a different campus. Karen Matthews, the Principal there, along with Cindy Moon and most of the teachers and staff, again organized a wonderful program with the children. We enjoyed two different orchestras performing a song each, as well as a solo performer on clarinet.

Our presentation varies slightly according to the ages of the children involved, and in this case we had a high energy and very receptive audience of over 150 children in the bleachers. The excitement really swelled as Karen and most of the others teachers, including one teacher who is expecting a child in about one month, all ran around the auditorium with the Torch as the children very enthusiastically cheered them on. Heading outdoors we passed the Torch around to all the children to offer their wishes and prayers for harmony and friendship. Before we left, a few of the high school girls decided to spontaneously sing our theme song for us once more as they enjoyed the rhythms and the music and positive message generated by this song written by the founder of the World Harmony Run, Sri Chinmoy. The words are: “Run, run, run, run, run, run, world Harmony Run. We are the Oneness and Fulness of tomorrow's sun.”

Running the Torch to our last location, we made it to the Rio Vista after school program in St. Petersburg before 4 pm. Katie Brewer, the Program Director, along with the staff,('Coaches' as they are referred to), and over 150 children, all welcomed us to this beautiful campus. Starting our program indoors in an auditorium with a big stage, we then proceeded outdoors where the children and staff executed a long and serpentine Torch run around the huge field. After a session of photos with the children and the Torch, we had to leave another exciting school experience, hopefully leaving behind as well as taking with us valuable lessons on harmony and friendship.

We ended the day with a very nice dinner offered by Tilvila, our local coordinator, and other friends who live and work here in the Tampa area. It was also a surprise party for one of the workers in her restaurant in Palm Harbor, called Consciousness-Blossoms. Katya just returned home from a successful 6-Day race in New York City, sponsored by the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team. In her first attempt at a multi-day race, she completed 300 miles in 6 days, a very noteworthy achievement. Our combined mileage here running with the Torch has not even come close to that in the last five days.

Special thanks to the management of IHop for providing us a complimentary meal on the night of May 6.

Arpan and the traveling World Harmony Run Team.

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