common dilemma

Last week, when my travels found me in Detroit, instead of in Seattle, I was in line with a lady who had not flown in ten years. Social though I may be, I sometimes crave solitude. When she asked if she could tag along with me since we were both stranded, I hesitated a moment before consenting.
We shared a common dilemma, and she wanted company.

The unknown unsettled her, so she pursued information:
What will the hotel look like?
Will we find somewhere to eat and use our travel vouchers?
How will we get back to the airport?
Will my luggage follow me (perhaps I should have answered this differently)?

And the like. (If she didn't like my answer, she asked someone else.)
She created community. Along with asking to join me, she invited several other people into "our circle." She encouraged one person to sit with us at dinner after we had already ordered. When the woman hesitated, I quickly said, "if you want to be alone, that's just fine."
To which she responded, "Oh no, I'm alone all too often."

And so our circle grew.
We laughed.
We broke bread together.
We moaned a bit about not making our connections...and then celebrated our food, accommodations, and the fact we weren't walking.

We traded email addresses.
They even let me pray with them.

Misery may love company, but one needn't stay miserable!