beboots

(quote from creepy old woman innkeeper in Hot Fuzz)

There's something about extreme weather that brings Canadians together. You find yourself doing things for random strangers that you would normally never, ever do, simply because you know how it feels to also be trapped outside in torrential rain or driving sleet or the begginings of a blizzard or whatever.

Take today, for example. We closed down the Midway half an hour early because we were getting dust devils (those mini tornadoes with a diameter of barely a meter or two that last maybe fifteen seconds, doing minimal damage except for lots of dust getting in one's eyes), then really strong winds (a couple of us were blown over, I had a "Marilyn Monroe" moment in which I was clutching at my skirt to keep my modesty) and then the begginings of rain. So yeah, we closed up early as all of the customers fled for the safety of their vehicles.

On my way home, I passed by Hawrelak Park, where the Heritage Days festival was going on. Essentially, they have nearly a hundred tents/booths set up with food, art, clothing and performers (among a medly of other things) from different cultures. You get issues every year, though, when someone thoughtlessly planned for the Israeli booth to be set up right across for the Arabic Pride pavilion, but it's generally lots of fun.

But as I drove by, traffic was backed up the equivalent of six or seven blocks, all the way across a bridge and almost to Groat Road - people fleeing the outdoor park in droves as the rain turned torrential. I mean, I could hardly see twenty feet in front of me for the water. There were lots of park'n'ride busses, vehicles, etc. Before I saw how long the line was, I was tempted to pull over towards that crowd of bedraggled looking fairgoers and shouting "Anybody here going to St. Albert?" and offering a ride to them - a half hour drive, to a stranger.

I didn't, but I was sorely tempted. It was a strong impulse. If I were in a truck, I would have picked up at least two cyclists as they gamely biked along the freeway through rain so thick that it was causing flash floods. But I couldn't pick them up because my car is too tiny for a bicycle. But the thought was there.

It's like, when bus drivers who are normally so surly they wouldn't give you the time of day except for the fact that their jobs depend on them being "friendly" will pull over to you in the transit centre in the dead of winter when it's -35C outside and the sky is threatening to snow and offer to let a bunch of punk university students warm up on their bus, free of charge, because the bus to the university is fifteen minutes late. That's what weather does to us. It changes us.

I sometimes think that the stereotype of Canadians all being very friendly is a bit (more than a bit) exaggerated (there are assholes in any country), but in cased of extreme weather, we all seem to turn out nice. Or at least, that's been my experience. We all know what it feels like and feel the urge to help out in cases of extreme weather conditions.

I wonder if we could apply this sense of comraderie on a larger scale? .

Also, some kinds and then their parents applauded me after I ran a particularly fast (hand-cranked) bug ride for them. It made me very happy to be so appreciated. :)