Newfies

I just finished a great book (it was a crazy-quick read). The book, The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland, is the first book written by Jim Defede (formerly a journalist at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane). As the title suggests, the book deals with how 9/11 brought the world to a small town on the Canadian island of Newfoundland when US airspace was closed and 38 US-bound aircraft were forced to land there with more than 6,000 travelers. The residents of Gander sprang into action and set the example of how we should put the needs of others ahead of our own.

There's nothing special about the writing, there's no "catch" at the end, there's really not even a plot. Plain and simple, it just tells stories of how the Newfies in the town of Gander did what needed to be done and didn't expect anything in return. In a world where trust of others is faint and human nature no longer assumes the best in people, this book reminded me that people are, by nature, good to others and pull together when help is needed. If you've got three or four hours this week, you should get a copy and take...a gander.