Laine
Contributor
To My Special Friends Forever,
I just returned from Canada last night. I am still weeping as I write this to all of you. Partly due to the nightmare itself and partly because of my overwhelming gratitude to the Canadian people. My journey to your wonderful country was supposed to be a special trip with my mother and sister to Toronto to see the Lion King on stage. I do not know how I could have gotten through those days without the love I received from complete strangers. Your countrymen held me and cried with me. The performance of the Lion King did go on this past Saturday night. After it was done the cast spoke to the audiance regarding the tragedy and a collection for the victims was started. The whole theatre came together in support. I was so moved by the outpouring of concern and love. So many of my country's flags were flown in halfmast in Toronto this past week that I could not count them all. As we left your great city, we stopped at the American Consulate. What I saw there will be with me the rest of my life. Hundreds of flowers, candles burning and heartfelt messages were left as a tribute. I walked up and down the sidewalk hand in hand with fellow Americans, Canadians and people of many
different countries. Finally my tears were spent and I continued on my journey back home.
It was hard for me to be away from my home during those impossible days, but what I experienced in your great nation has given me reason to believe in a bright future for humanity. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you did for me and my family during this difficult time. I feel I have made a nation of friends and I will never forget this as long as I live.
Love To You All,
Laine
I just returned from Canada last night. I am still weeping as I write this to all of you. Partly due to the nightmare itself and partly because of my overwhelming gratitude to the Canadian people. My journey to your wonderful country was supposed to be a special trip with my mother and sister to Toronto to see the Lion King on stage. I do not know how I could have gotten through those days without the love I received from complete strangers. Your countrymen held me and cried with me. The performance of the Lion King did go on this past Saturday night. After it was done the cast spoke to the audiance regarding the tragedy and a collection for the victims was started. The whole theatre came together in support. I was so moved by the outpouring of concern and love. So many of my country's flags were flown in halfmast in Toronto this past week that I could not count them all. As we left your great city, we stopped at the American Consulate. What I saw there will be with me the rest of my life. Hundreds of flowers, candles burning and heartfelt messages were left as a tribute. I walked up and down the sidewalk hand in hand with fellow Americans, Canadians and people of many
different countries. Finally my tears were spent and I continued on my journey back home.
It was hard for me to be away from my home during those impossible days, but what I experienced in your great nation has given me reason to believe in a bright future for humanity. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you did for me and my family during this difficult time. I feel I have made a nation of friends and I will never forget this as long as I live.
Love To You All,
Laine