World Came To Town

World Came To Town

One day Adam suggested a book I might like to read. He sure had
made a good choice. Jim Defede's The Day The World Came To Town is
one of the most eloquent, heart warming, inspiring books I have ever
laid eyes on.
A lot of us either didn't realize or have forgotten that
following the terrorist attacks of 9/11 America's air space was
closed. Period. No planes allowed in. There was one major problem.
A lot of them were headed over from across the ocean and could not
just turn around. Where could they land?
Thank God for Canada, our good neighbor to the North. It became
the rerouted destination. A number of planes touched down in the
little town of Gander, Newfoundland. An amazing parade of aircraft
began passing over its citizens. Most of them put their lives on hold
a week to tend to the needs of a huge crowd of unexpected but very
welcome guests.
Even if passengers had only been detained long enough for
security clearance thirty-eight planes would have created a lot of
work just in tasks like refueling, restocking food and water, and
emptying sewage. Fortunately prominent citizens intuited that the
passengers weren't going anywhere fast. They set in motion an
initiative that set out to meet all their potential needs. By the
time the first plane discharged its human cargo, buses were on hand to
deliver them to shelters set up in schools and other buildings,
equipped not only with bedding and food but with people to take care
of them.
In that endeavor they went way above and beyond the call of self
appointed duty. They gave rides wherever they were needed and opened
their homes freely to people needing showers. They facilitated
communications with loved ones in other countries. They located
kosher food for those who required it and created a birthday party for
kids missing out on a celebratory trip to Disney. Those myriad acts
of kindness cemented friendships between the Newfoundlanders and their
guests.
The Day The World Came To Town beautifully documents the
challenges and joys they shared and the bonds they forged. It's a
must read. It will renew faith that in a world where there seems to
be so much bad news amazing grace can still prevail.
On a personal note, we have been having incredible Indian summer
weather with golden days in the 70s. Time to read in my swing. I
celebrated my birthday September 21. The family went out to Ground
Round. Tomorrow I am so lucky because my Christine and I are getting
a combined birthday party thrown for us.
A great big shout out goes out to family and friends.
Julia Emily Hathaway


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