The comfort of strangers

Twenty-five years ago, I traveled to the South Pacific for about six months. My son was living in Manila in the Philippines, and I had spent three weeks with him before traveling to Brisbane, Australia, to see the Goodwill Games. As the games ended on September 9, I decided to spend a few extra days enjoying the beautiful and eclectic city of "Brissy."

Two days later, America was attacked by terrorists. I could barely believe my eyes as I stared at the television, watching the towers fall.

I didn’t know what to do. I was so far from home, with no one to talk to about how I was feeling. I spent the next two days wandering the streets, unable to comprehend what happened, unable to read a newspaper or watch the follow-up news stories. My son and I were in contact via email, as I didn’t have a cell phone back then. The airports were closed, but as soon as planes started flying again, he asked me to come back to Manila to sort out our feelings together.

He and I spent the next few days walking through the outdoor markets, It was there that the most curious thing happened. On a busy street with many food vendors, an elderly woman selling kabobs saw that I was an American, and she came out from behind her booth to greet me.  She was crying as she grasped my hands and said, “I’m so sorry for you and your people. Will you tell New York that I’m praying for them?”

Other people on the street heard our exchange. One by one, people came over to me and touched me on the arm and shoulder, and some started to hug me. Within minutes I was surrounded and comforted by a dozen strangers. It was the most compassionate thing I have ever experienced and something I will never forget.

Karen Miller is a freelance writer and former resident of Fernandina Beach. She and her husband Troy are currently building an off-grid home in Colorado’s San Luis Valley.

If you have a story you'd like to share here in the Fernandina Observer - about a neighbor or friend or stranger or business that showed you kindness, or about kindness and compassion in general - please contact Peggie Weeks at pegweeks@gmail.com