Do you remember where you were on the morning of 9/11? I imagine many of us do. I was sitting in my basement office, half listening to Ralph Bermagui on the radio telling some weird story about planes, crashes and twin towers. Then Erica, my friend who was working with me came racing down the stairs and insisted we turn the TV on. And I realized the weird story was real.

We sat in the TV room, staring at the screen. And we saw what had happened and what was going on in New York.

I don’t remember a lot after that. I do remember all the talk, sharing of stories, and the disbelief that something that devastating had actually happened in my lifetime. It is with a mixture of horror and amazement whenever I think about it. But then there was what happened in Gander,

To refresh your memory, 38 planes carrying over 6,500 passengers were grounded in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador…a town of about 10,000 people. Now, that wasn’t really the good part, but what happened afterwards was. The people in this town, and other smaller, local communities opened their homes, their schools, their buses, their grocery stores and welcomed all these wayward Americans into their hearts.

Just pause for a moment and think about that. Suddenly, thousands of people needed help. They needed their medication, cell phone chargers, food, toiletries, diapers, water….think of all the things you’d need if you were suddenly stranded somewhere!

The people of Gander responded with grace, humility and enthusiasm. And a lot of toilet paper!

Why talk about this? Well, Sunday was Rory’s 37th birthday.

And for his birthday, he took his most wonderful girlfriend and his mother (me, in case you’re not paying attention) to see “Come From Away”. Now, understand that I will cry at Bell commercials when people call home or any Instagram post with dogs. I’ll be (to use a Newfoundland phrase) “snotting and bawling” in a heartbeat. My son is not much better, and with his girlfriend Dasha about the same, the 3 of us were pressing Kleenex to our eyes and noses for much of the show.

I’ve seen this remarkable performance once before. But somehow, Sunday’s production hit me right in the solar plexus. With all the craziness going on in the world, it was a HUGE reminder that there is good – honest to goodness goodness - in all corners of our country. For the 100 minutes that I sat and listened, laughed, teared up and swelled with pride, I was grateful that I was Canadian.

I took away a few things from that day. First, realizing yet again how remarkable that event was in our history. The town of Gander was not expecting that they’d be overrun with the American “plane people”. Upon landing, the people on board had no idea what was going on, and the fear and anxiety must have been overwhelming. Yet somehow, common people from Newfoundland were able to reach into the hearts and souls of their visitors and bring grace to the entire situation. The characters in the show, who represent the real people who drove the buses, found the pets on the planes, soothed fears and brought ever so much toilet paper to the school, told their story with dignity and care.

Second, the depth of the stories that were intertwined in the fabric of the play touched me – the gay couple who were worried that they would not be accepted, and yet soon found that they were welcomed and cherished. The first female captain flying for American Airlines, and how she handled the event with herself with courtesy and skill. The young man wearing a taqiyah (small cap) who had to deal with initial skepticism and trepidation, but when he was finally able to explain that he was a chef, he was lauded and welcomed. And the lovely American woman and British man who connected as friends and eventually married as a result of their visit. These underlying stories were equally impactful.

And when you learn, both as someone watching the play, but also, after the real event, the passengers and crew of one flight initiated a $15,000 scholarship fund for students in Gander, my heart, like the Grinch’s, grew three sizes that day! More donations were given in response to the initial generosity, and the fund has grown to over $1 million which has provided scholarships for local students.

But there was a third thing that made me so very, very happy. How many mothers get invited and treated by their 37-year-old son on his birthday to go out for brunch and go to live theatre? Amidst all the emotions of the performance, I was also more that aware of how lucky I was to be that mother.

There are gifts and joys all around us. I know it’s hard, and our minds seem to be held captive by the news. Please, for your own sake, take a moment and look for those joys. Then just sit back and feel them pour into your heart. You will feel better for it. I know I do.

Come From Away and More!

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