We heard the sirens in the distance and knew exactly what to do. We had done it before. Many times. You have, too. It’s automatic. My daughter was at the wheel and as the lights became visible, clearly heading our way, she signaled, slowed and pulled over, as did the cars sharing the road with us. Everyone waited patiently as the fire truck and ambulance raced toward us, maneuvering through the path we had collectively created for them. I covered my ears as they passed us and then we worked our way back onto the road and resumed our journey.
“I love this,” I said. “What?” my daughters asked. “I love that when we hear a siren, road rage and hurry are suspended and people start working together.” The girls agreed that it was cool, but couldn’t resist teasing, asking me if wanted to stop at the store, get food and blankets and bring buckets of water. We laughed. They know me for what I am – a bit of a sap – a sentimental believer in human goodness. But I do find it worth noting that people who, just minutes before were racing to pass us or flipping us off as we passed them (not that I ever do anything like that while driving…) were suddenly transformed by the fact that someone needed help. In an instant, we switched from being isolated individuals with personal agendas to a unit, working together to help someone in serious trouble – someone we don’t even know. No longer adversaries, vying for position on 23rd Street, we had become allies, united by a common goal.
The cynics (including myself on certain days) might argue that the hefty fine for not cooperating is the real motive for our behavior. Perhaps. But I’ve seen this sort of thing enough to believe that there is something else at work that compels us during times like these. When something big happens, something that affects us all, we behave differently.
Take snow for instance. Did you ever notice how peoples’ moods change when it’s snowing? Last week, as soon as the snow began falling, I felt my mood lift. Walking down the dock, as the flakes became evident, everyone I passed greeted me with a smile and said, “Snow!” Not “Hi,” but, “Snow!” (Complete with exclamation mark.) Who hasn’t stood in awe and delight at the window when the first snow of the season begins?
