I loved the Billy Joel tune “Vienna” in 13 Going on 30. It was the perfect reminder to slow down and not rush your life or you might miss all the beauty that surrounds you in the here and now. 

 

I found it perfectly fitting to watch this exact lesson unfold in literal Vienna this week, as planned terrorist attacks canceled three nights of Taylor Swift Erasconcerts. 

 

Ticket holders were devastated. Many had maxed out credit cards to travel overseas to catch the European leg of Swift’s worldwide tour. Vienna was a lovely destination but they’d come to see Taylor. 

 

Respecting the artist’s love and concern for her fans, though, they rallied. Within hours Swifties from across the world began gathering in what became a Taylor Swift street festival. 

 

Impromptu concerts, street dances, and a live chat in which Taylor reportedly hopped on turned the disappointment into the experience of a lifetime. 

 

Gergana Galathynius, Bulgaria, says “Right after a video of us singing in the street took place, there was a proposal on the street. We are healing together.”

 

Katie Urquieta, Maryland, visited with a woman wearing a “Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” dress. She was inviting concertgoers to sign her dress, putting pain to print in what could be deemed the ultimate revenge dress. 

 

Rachel Morton was impressed with the kindness of the Vienna Polizei, who monitored jovially ensuring the safety of over 100,000 tourists in Austria for the canceled concerts. 

 

Businesses stepped up as well. Restaurants, museums, movie theaters, and pubs offered free food and free admittance for those possessing Eras tickets. Swarovski offered a “crystal surprise” to fans at their Kristallwelten store that appeared to be a free necklace or bracelet gifted in a mesh bag.

 

Celine De Roeck was uploading videos to a Taylor Swift Facebook fan group. “Swifties are singing and trading bracelets. It’s not much but it softens the pain a bit of not seeing Tay live.”

 

Perhaps in the midst of the pain it doesn’t seem like much, but watching from home it’s awe-inspiring. The resilience of these fans turning lemons into lemonade, and they way they refused to let alleged terrorists win is beautiful. The indomitable human spirit is on full display and one day their momentary disappointment will be replaced with pride that they were part of such an epic experience. 

 

Some already realize the significance. A giant sign of support to Swift has garnered thousands of Swiftie signatures already. Across the middle reads All’s Well That Ends Well, from Taylor’s popular “All Too Well” tune. 

 

Aisha Mossad, Germany, says she normally doesn’t cry. But the outpouring of love and support, not to mention the friendship bracelets people gave her upon seeing her Swift bag, made her emotional. “I want to thank everyone for their support.”

 

That’s the general consensus in Vienna right now. Thankfulness. Thankful that a deadly crisis was averted. Grateful to have each other as friendship bracelet serve as official Swiftie currency. And massive support for their favorite artist. 

 

After all, they know what she would do. She’d absolutely shake it off!