Helping hands impress Amtrak passengers stuck in Libby
To the Editor:
On Monday, April 17, my mom, Dean Ellis, and my aunt, Jeri Marnell, set off on an adventure to Whitefish aboard an Amtrak train out of Seattle.
My mom is 82 years old (but you'd never know it!) and my aunt is 77 years old, with many health problems. Because of a train derailment, their plans were changed. Below is an excerpt of her e-mail to me, and I hope of interest to you.
From Dean Ellis from Seattle, Washington.
"We left Seattle at 5 pm. A train leaves from Portland and one from Seattle and they meet in Spokane. There some cars are taken from one and added to another depending whether you are going the Chicago or the New York route. We were on the Chicago route. We knew we would have a wait in Spokane, that depended on the two trains being on time and how much time it took to shift us around.
We waited and waited. We saw the Portland train arrive and still we waited. Finally the porter came into our section and told us to gather up all our belongings as we were being transferred to buses … a freight train derailment east of Spokane was the problem.
So, we were all put into five buses and driven to Libby, Montana, a three-hour trip. Libby is a very small town and the main street ends in a circle at the depot area. We had to get off the buses and all the luggage —both the carry-on and the checked — was put off and we had to gather up our own stuff and get them to the depot in Libby. The depot filled up real fast and the rest of us had to wait outside. It was 7 a.m., 14 hours after leaving Seattle, and it was a tad on the chilly side. We had no idea when the train to pick us up and take us on would arrive for they had to "call back" a train that was already on its way — to where I do not know.
One of the restaurants that was close to the station offered free coffee but had no take-out cups. Across from the station was a large old two-story building that housed a thrift shop, sheltered workshop and not sure what else. A woman from there came across the lawn and offered free coffee. I went over and got two cups. They realized how many of us were waiting and started up the big coffee urns and brought pots of coffee and tea to us. They also opened up the restrooms.
The kindness of strangers in an anxious situation was such a wonderful thing. The little station was so full of people you could hardly get in and out and by then all the toilet paper was gone. Someone (an angel?) appeared with a 36-roll package like one gets at Costco.Then strangers came with doughnuts. We could not believe the generosity of the town people. They didn't know any of us and would never see us again, and yet they went out of their way to be kind and sharing with us."
Thanks to the Internet, I can look up Libby, Montana, and find someone who may be able to share this letter with the people involved with "saving" my mom and aunt, and countless others. I feel like you have shared the spirit of a time gone by, though obviously, that time has not gone by in Libby, Montana. God bless you all and thank you to everyone involved in sharing with strangers.
Many passengers will not be able to locate someone to thank, but be assured that now these passengers will be talking of your kindness forever.
God bless you all.
LeAnne Enderle
North Bend, Ohio
Play needs community suport
To the Editor:
On Saturday, April 22, I attended one of the most impressive productions, and it was right here in Libby. The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon-Marigolds.
The cast of Marchette Momb, Betty Cooper, Katie Babb, Makayla Cichosz and Stormy Miller were all so incredible as to equal productions I've attended in the large cities by professional actors. As an audience member you would never know that it was some of these ladies' first role. These five ladies put so much time and effort into this performance that they deserve to have the people of Libby show up to support them.
Alan Woods did an excellent job directing this serious award winning play.
If you are an advertiser in the program, if you in any way support any of the various art forms, if you are a teacher of any of these young ladies, or just want to see what some of the young people of Libby are capable of doing, treat yourself and attend this play.
The community of Libby is so very fortunate to have the live theater groups currently working so hard to entertain you. Get out there and support them.
Roxanne Parker