This past weekend was spent in Welland for the funeral of the father of my soon to be brother-in-law. As the funeral procession drove from the funeral home to the church and then later on to the cemetary, I noticed a very cool thing. Everyone who was driving pulled over to the side of the road and stopped until we all drove by. Everyone who was walking on the sidewalk stopped and waited until we all drove by. They were paying their respects to the deceased and to the family.
In all my years of living in Toronto, I've never noticed anyone stopping while the procession drives by. We may slow down but we never stop. I thought that was a great gesture on behalf of all the people living in Welland. One woman stopped walking and put down her Tim Horton's bag on the sidewalk and bowed her head!
I guess things like this happen more often in small towns where interactions with the same people create a feeling of closeness and respect. Life is slower and the little things are appreciated more. This is lost in the fast-paced, big cities where people stay to themselves and interact with others only when necessary.
Good on you, Welland!
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