Nice Finish

GOING THE EXTRA MILE

Ten years ago, exhausted and disoriented after finishing the 100th Boston Marathon, I turned to one of the other 40,000 runners and asked whether he could direct me to a local hotel. Instead, the man kindly offered to walk me there. Our small talk covered three topics: our first names, the towns in which we lived, and our professions. The next day while describing the race to a co-worker, I told her about the friendly runner and our all-too-short conversation. My colleague gave me a puzzled look and said, "I think he's a friend of mine." Given the limited description and massive coincidence, I agreed to let her contact her friend. One phone call proved that she was right, and -- even better -- that her friend had been searching through the finish results in an attempt to find my last name so he could call me. She gave him my phone number, and this year we will watch the 110th marathon together, celebrating seven years of marriage and 4-year-old twin boys. Who knew one could simply run into a husband?
KATE LOOSIAN /// Arlington

HOOKED

While riding south on Route 1 into Boston for his much anticipated first visit to the New England Aquarium, our 3 1/2-year-old son, Graydon, talked excitedly about the sharks, turtles, trout, and salmon. Suddenly, though, he shouted, "I forgot something!" "What?" I gasped. We had everything: camera, snacks, cellphones, cash. In all seriousness, and full of disappointment, he said: "My fishing rod."
SUZANNE HILYARD /// Ipswich