One is NOT Only

I am overwhelmed these days when I turn on my television, log on to Facebook or other on line sites. Everywhere I read about violent acts,vengeful thoughts, fear induced panic, and  hatred being spewed by people I always thought were  sane  and mostly reasonable human beings.  I saw a Facebook post that I thought summed up my “position” and started to share it. I realized as I started to hit the post button that I didn’t like the feeling in my heart -“this will show THEM”.  I stepped away and realized no matter what the words of the post said the feeling in my heart was anger, frustration and a good dose of my long time companion and nemesis -self righteousness. It made me start reflecting on how much I have changed over the years and how I probably was the them just a few years ago.  Life’s lessons have greatly changed my opinions.  I  realized it has been 20 years since I landed in Nashville on January 8, 1996 in the middle of huge snow storm.

Landing 20 years ago today , moving from Los Angeles with 3  small children, my plane was the last one allowed in before the Nashville airport closed due to blizzard conditions-closed airport, closed interstates-I was stranded alone at the airport with a 5 year old daughter and  my twin 3 year old sons. One-who will remain nameless-was screaming over and over at the top of his lungs-I want to go to SLEEP NOWWWWW! It was all I could do not to sit down in the floor and cry with him.  That is when I met two angels , disguised as strangers, April and Bill, who noticing my situation came up to me and after chatting a few minutes said “we know we are strangers but would you like to come home with us rather than trying to take the children to a hotel?” I did not even hesitate to say yes!  April took charge, pointed to me and my three exhausted children- one in my arms wailing and the other two clinging to my other hand-  and asked all of the people standing in the taxi line if they minded if we went to the front of the line.  Everyone was happy to let us go ahead though a few minutes earlier they had all acted like they did not see me. I know that feeling-seeing someone so obviously needing help but having no idea what to do so you just pretend you don’t see them. Most of them really couldn’t take us home with them but even a smile is comforting. Bill and April bundled us all into a taxi and took us home.  We arrived at their home  and their adult son came out to help them in. I am sure he was surprised when bodies just kept piling out of the yellow cab,but it was clear he was not remotely surprised that his parents would invite a stranded stranger with three small children to come home with them. It was just who they are -and I realized I was not the first stranger they have rescued. This is just everyday stuff for April and Bill-they decided to do what they could on that day. I lay in a bed that night with all three of my children snuggled in with me sleeping peacefully thousands of miles from where we started that morning in the home of people who had been strangers just a few hours before. My future that day was  unclear but I knew I was going to be OK. I am so grateful April and Bill smiled on me that day and chose to see me as a friend!