There were many stories of unexpected and unanticipated hardships this Christmas due to the weather.
Most of us in Cambridge were sheltered from the very worst but we heard stories all around, particularly from our neighbours just across the border in Buffalo.
There were a wealth of stories where the human spirit rose to overcome difficulties to help those in dire straits; stories of unselfish and random acts of kindness, of endurance, determination to help those worse off than themselves.
To me, these are the Christmas miracles. They are rarely front-page news, the doom and gloom stories seem to dominate, yet every time disaster strikes somewhere, a small act of kindness makes a huge impact. It reminds me of the wonderful “Come From Away" story of Gander, Newfoundland during 911 disaster; total strangers caught in similar circumstances reaching out to support one another.
On December 23, Highways 402 and 401 were closed due to huge vehicle pile ups. Many cars took to secondary roads and ended up in snowdrifts or ditches unable to progress. There had been warnings in the media suggesting travellers take an emergency kit, snacks, water, flashlight, and blanket; but few took the suggestion seriously.
All travellers expected to arrive at their destinations.
In addition, there was chaos at airports across the continent, flights canceled, lost luggage, no hotel rooms available, no communication. Thousands of people trying to get home or to visit their loved ones for Christmas were unable to do so.
Just a few of these examples garnered from a variety of news media are listed here. You may not have seen them.
A family in Chatham-Kent was travelling from Toronto to Windsor where, due to no visibility, a state of emergency was declared and roads closed, leaving them stuck.
A Blenheim home had an unexpected knock on the door, when opened there stood a woman shivering and scared with a six-foot snowdrift behind her. When she was welcomed inside, she informed the family she had a baby in her car.
Once the residents went to check no one was hurt, they found two other vehicles and ended up welcoming a total of ten strangers into their home. Fully prepared to entertain guests they were expecting a few days later, the family had plenty of food, so the ten strangers stayed overnight, warmed and well fed.
The following day their vehicles were located, and a tractor pulled them out of ditches, and snowdrifts and all went on their way having made new friends.
Near Wallenstein, northwest of Waterloo, a car was slowly being buried in snow. The couple had picked up a hitchhiker who had been dumped by a taxi who returned home. As the trio settle in for a long cold night with the fuel gauge dipping, they are very anxious and feared they might die in the middle of Mennonite farm country.
A sudden knock on the window by a man in snowshoes appeared, he asked if they had food and water. He promised to come back now he had located them.
By the time he returned an hour later with his tractor he had pulled other cars out of drifts. Once the cars were back on the road the man asked them to follow him to his home. All 16 of the rescued travelers were invited into his home to help prepare dinner.
How the man had found them was a miracle. One of the other snowbound cars noticed a mailbox and read the name on it. She called her son and asked him to look up all the people in the area with that name. Her son found the man and called and told him his mom was snowbound; that was when he put on his snowshoes and went searching.
All 16 ate together, sharing their stories before settling in for the night. Again, a small miracle and all 16 had the experience of a random act of kindness.
Near Colborne, six buses travelling to Montreal were stuck for five hours before being directed off the highway to the township of Cramahe, a population of 6,500.
Told they had to spend the night with nowhere to go, one Cramahe staff member suggested opening the arena for everyone. Families gratefully entered the area from the buses and from other stuck cars. All families from babies to seniors and a few pets. Once inside they found a freezer with food, left from the previous night’s event. They asked permission to use it. Several passengers came together to make an international feast.
Skidoos with residents brought them blankets and water. The following day residents came with turkeys, barbeques and cooked up a storm. Again, an impromptu coming together where the townspeople offered random acts of kindness to hundreds of stranded strangers.
There are dozens more stories, a firefighter who noting an elderly grandmother weeping because she missed her connection to join her family for Christmas, put her in his truck and drover her the two and half hours to her destination.
These are just a few of the heartwarming stories from Christmas 2022.
When the human spirit rises to help others in need, miracles are still found if you look. Random acts of kindness come in all sizes from all areas. It gives me hope.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year and all the best for 2023.
