Day 6 - 253 -- An Emotional Day

NOTE: this may be triggering for some people. Proceed with care as this deal with 9/11.

Eighteen years ago terrorists attacked using airplanes as weapons. The impact even years later is visceral. I've often thought of how people pulled together to help each other after the attack. Us Amabassador to Canada,David Jacobson, thanks the people of Gander, Newfoundland for their support when airspace was closed. He said, "You were the best of us." This small town in a rugged island province did what Newfoundlanders do -- treated the 6595 passengers and crew members from 38 planes like family. They cooked and opened their homes for people to have a shower. They drove them around to see the area. The provided them with basic needs, connections to the outside world, medications, infant care needs and perhaps most important, a kind, caring smile. Other airports across Canada welcomed passengers from multiple planes. Cruise ships docked in west and east coast ports for several days before travel routes and air space opened again. But when we think of the harbouring of travellers, Gander often comes to mind first -- likely due to it being a small rural town that pulled together with other local tiny villages to support this huge influx of international visitors -- or come from aways, as those not from the province are termed.

What may seem odd, is that after it was over, David Hein and Irene Sankoff met with the people of Gander to gather information to write a musical. A musical!. They seemed to know that the human stories of permanent friendships and love stories could communicate the humanity behind the tragedy. Their musical opened on Broadway and was successful leading to a wider touring show. It ran in Toronto for a long time. Local friends have seen it in London when on vacation and other friends may see it while on sabbatical in Australia. It spoke to the world, providing hope within the madness of those days post attack.

I chose to share a song from that show, but decided that two might work best. The first presents the reaction of those in Gander as planes began arriving.I used the lyric videos to help see the different conversations occurring. The second takes place many hours later when the planes debarked and people needed to reconnect with their own worlds. In a conversational manner, the lyrics show the emotions of the days. Enjoy!

38 Planes -- Come From Away cast



Phoning Home -- Come From Away cast