A Community of Strangers

We are a community of strangers.  We do not know one another but we can recognize one another. 

This week we're vacationing at Disney World.  Yesterday we had a long, hot day and though we rested for a while in the afternoon, by the time the fireworks were over it was late and RJC was done.  We made our way through the crowd to the bus area where we waited for our bus to take us back to the resort.  RJC is not one for standing, so she was sitting on the cement.  The bus came rather quickly and the man in front of us helped her up.  I thought it was a nice gesture and thanked him.  Just my luck, by the time we boarded there were no seats.  Let the screaming begin.

All in all it was pretty much just two long screams then she plunked herself down on the floor of the bus.  The same man leaned over to me and asked "Are you ok?"  I smiled, said something like, "Yeah, she's just holding on by a string" and he replied "At least she's still holding on."  Again, I politely smiled.  I did think it was interesting that he didn't ask me if SHE was ok, since that's the usual question, but I was tired and mostly focused on keeping RJC in check.

The ride felt endless and I caught this man's eye again.  He nodded, I nodded.  Then as I was looking around to see where we were and hoping we were reaching our destination, I saw his son.  He was in the eight to ten year old range and was diagnosed with Down's Syndrome.

It all made sense.  Of course he helped her up.  It was instinctual.  Of course he asked if I was ok.  He'd been there.  He knows that "walking on egg shell" feeling when you're just praying silently that the screams stop there and don't explode into a full blown tantrum with a bus full of people. 

We are a community of strangers and we're there for each other.  Even when we don't realize it.

We made it with no other issues back to the resort and when we got off the bus we said our goodnights.  He went his way with his family, I went mine with RJC.  He probably did not give us another thought but I sure silently thanked him on our walk back. 

There is something about knowing that somebody "gets it" when you're in the middle of it.  There is something comforting about our community of strangers that helps us to plow on.  You don't need to have a child with specials needs to be in that community.  You just need to understand and be compassionate.  We need our community of strangers to make it through.  So let me say now to all of you who are part of this community - thank  you in advance for those times that you help me...or somebody else...get through those moments.  Thank YOU for being a part of our community of strangers.