During the worst of the icy roads and traffic jams in Atlanta, a wonderful thing happened. Many people walked to those stranded in their cars and offered water and food. Some even took them into their own homes. I know that churches, fire stations, and stores also took people in so that those who were stranded would not have to spend the night out in the cold. To all of them, I say God bless you all.
During this time, a wonderful woman by the name of Michelle Sollicito created a Facebook page so that people could use it to get help and to let their families know of their whereabouts. Everyone was talking of what a wondrous thing that it was and so very helpful. Since I am Georgia Girl With An English Heart, I must tell you that Michelle Sollicito is an Englishwoman who now lives in Georgia.
Now, it really doesn't matter that she is English, but she is, and I knew she had to be since I could tell by her accent! So, I say God bless you, Michelle Sollicito!
So many people who were helping each other out...acting as if we are all in the same boat.
Oh wait, we ARE all in the same boat. This is how we should act all the time, over all the Earth.
God bless us all!
Come on people now...listen to this song from the 60's,,,it's a good one.
I was just reading how Chick Fil a workers delivered food to stranded motorists. Thanks for sharing some of the good news out there.
ReplyDeletePrecious good news on TV these days, I was happy to see this.
DeleteSometimes a crisis brings out the best in people.
ReplyDeleteAnd I think we should honor good behavior!
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DeleteI imagine lasting friendships were formed during that time. Who knows, maybe even a romance developed :-) Would actually be a good story for a book or film.
ReplyDeleteI read that since so many were off on Wednesday, they expect quite a few babies will be born in nine months time!
DeleteYou wouldn't believe all the stories I have heard. One is...my good friend's brother walked 20 miles when his car was stranded!
It's wonderful to hear about people helping people. This storm is one many will not forget for years to come.
ReplyDeleteOh! You would love the boy's story about staying overnight in school. He seemed so grateful to the teachers and he said that he had an experience that he would always remember!
DeleteYeah, the storm in Atlanta made the news here in Hawaii. I am glad you stayed indoors. What lovely people to help those who were stranded.
ReplyDeleteDo you watch snow stories and are glad you are in Hawaii? :-)
DeleteYou are right. When there's a hurricane around here, everyone pulls together. And no, we shouldn't have to wait for a storm to do that.
ReplyDeleteEverybody get together, try to love one another right now.
DeleteYep, that sounds like what we should be doing all the time.
I think that's super! And the English do tend to be very friendly and helpful. I just had a blogger friend come over from England to visit Savannah and New Orleans and she said that one of the memories she'll carry with her is how friendly the people in the south are and I would second that, I think they're pretty impressive.
ReplyDeleteI love being Southern as much as I love my English heart.
DeleteI think people are pretty much the same everywhere really. It's just that I only know two places, Georgia and England!
People really do pull together in a crisis. And how lovely to hear that Michelle is English! Your Southern hospitality must have rubbed off on her, though I agree with Mac n Janet's comments above :)
ReplyDeleteHey Julie!
DeleteI make so secret of how much I love all things English. It might not be as obvious how much I love being Southern but I hope it is implied! :-)
Love this song, Kay! And this post! I heard on the news about how people were helping out during the recent nightmare in Atlanta. It makes you stop and think about how many extraordinary ordinary people there are! I hope someone honors those extraordinary school bus drivers who cared for kiddos on their buses overnight. I can imagine that parents were frantic. I couldn't help but think: "Mr. SBD, I gotta pee!" I was thinking of you and hoping that you were all safe and warm. Ice on the roads is the worst! Take care!
ReplyDeleteHey Louise! I hope you are singing this song now!
DeleteWouldn't this have been awful to have been stranded like that? I truly feel so sorry for all those affected, the worried parents and well, everyone, really!
It would be wonderful if we all treated each other this way all the time. The people you speak of are heroes.
ReplyDeleteHeroes, I agree.
DeleteOh, I love this! Since school was out for 2 days, I didn't see, hear or read any news.....so I definitely missed these stories. It's really wonderful and gives me faith that humans are still more good than bad (a question Keith posed on his blog recently!).
ReplyDeleteAnne Frank wrote in her diary that she felt that people were good.
DeleteIf she could write this, then I think we should believe it and LIVE it!
While I was reading yesterday's newspaper, I read an article about how people were stealing cars that had been deserted in ATL. And I immediately thought of this post and my comment. It really did make me kind of sad......I can't imagine being the type of person who would take total advantage of someone who is already down on their luck and in a bad situation. Wait, what am I saying? I can't imagine taking advantage of someone even on their best day. Whew.
DeleteThis is a great story. Kindness still exists! Love that song too!
ReplyDelete"Kindness is the overflowing of love into the lives of others".
DeleteSo many times we only hear bad news about bad people. How nice to hear the good things done by good people...way to go Atlanta citizens! You should be proud of your town! It's encouraging to know that people can be at their best when things are at their worst. Hope it's cleared all up and that's the worst of it for your Winter season...now on to Spring!
ReplyDeleteHope your brother was okay too! I remember that he lives in the Atlanta area!
DeleteBad times do seem to bring out the best in people, many of whom seem to need such a situation to see their better side, sadly enough. That said, it was wonderful, Kay, to read this post and also hear on the news of so many random acts of kindness. Glad to read also that you and Richard were safely at home and not on the roads with so many others. The photos were lovely and sure that the quiche was delicious too.
ReplyDeleteMany acts of kindness, I am hoping that is a phrase that comes into use more often!
DeleteThe quiche was one of the best EVER! I might have to do a post about it!
I heard about this helpfulness and thought of my mother saying, "It's an ill wind that blows no good". My bil and his family live in Atlanta and my niece was in one of the bad traffic jams, but I think her boyfriend came and rescued her!
ReplyDeleteOh, I am glad that your niece was rescued! Let's hope that "lessons were learned" and that the folks in Atlanta won't have this again.
DeleteSorry, meant my db, not bil....
DeleteThat photo is full of atmosphere. It's wonderful the way people will pull together sometimes and help each other. A hopeful situation, isn't it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jenny! I really loved this photo that Richard took, that streetlight shining on the ice beginning to form on the road somehow captures the eerie strangeness of ice/snow in Atlanta...but the light shows that there is hope.
DeleteWe've been watching the news about the weather and people who went out of their way to help strangers who were stranded. It really restores a lot of faith in people. This is such a loving post!
ReplyDeleteSuch a loving post? Thank you, Kay, that warms my heart to read your loving words!
DeleteSuch a lovely post and heartwarming to know there are so many kind, and wonderful people in the world. Amazing how temperatures hit 74 degrees after all that snow and ice. Best wishes,
ReplyDeleteMairead