This big thank you goes out to Candy Cooper, a customer service representative at the Allegheny County Airport Authority.

My family arrived at Pittsburgh International Airport from California on the Thursday night before Christmas. We learned that my mother's suitcase would be delayed, and that we should go home and wait for it to be delivered later that evening. Of course, her Christmas gifts for my children, and important medications, were in the suitcase.

That evening, the suitcase did not arrive.

And it did not arrive the next morning or the next afternoon.

We called the airline. They referred us to baggage claim. When we finally got through, a disgruntled employee answered the phone (after five minutes of ringing) and barked, "You'll be on hold for at least 10 minutes. We have a line of people out the door!" She never did pick up the phone.

My mother was becoming increasingly upset -- 27 hours had passed and no one would provide any information about her bag.

Finally, I called the administrative offices for the airport, where an unfortunate Candy Cooper got my angry call. She was pleasant and reassuring. She called nine different internal numbers (baggage claim wouldn't take her calls either).

Finally, she said, "I'm calling the tower. This is crazy -- there isn't even a snowstorm. Someone should answer the phone." We agreed. Within a few more minutes Candy called to give us an update on the bag, and assured us it would be delivered within the hour. And then -- most remarkably -- she called back at the end of that hour to see if the bag had arrived! Of course it had not, but it did arrive around 10 p.m.

I laughed with Candy on our last phone call, and said, "Leave it to a Pittsburgh spitfire to get this bag safely into our hands!" Thank you, Candy!

-- SUZANNE ALEXANDER, O'Hara

On the evening of Dec. 17, I took my daughter to the Olive Garden in Bethel Park for dinner. When we finished, the waitress informed me that the folks sitting behind me had paid our bill and quietly slipped out of the restaurant.

I know they weren't looking for thanks, but I feel compelled to tell them how much I appreciate their kindness. If I had the opportunity, this is what I would say:

"Since you left the restaurant before I knew you paid our check, I never got to say thank you for treating my daughter and me to dinner. Thank you for making my day a whole lot brighter. Most importantly, thank you for the priceless gift you gave my daughter by showing her that people do nice things just for the sake of doing something nice.

"I don't know what made you decide to treat us to dinner. But here's what you didn't see:

"I had a stressful day at work and was feeling disappointed that I would be working on Christmas Eve for the first time in years. And the dinner I had planned that night was ruined by a malfunctioning crock pot.

"You didn't hear the day's frustration in my voice when my husband called from an office holiday function and I told him, 'I know it isn't in the budget this week, but I'm taking our daughter out to dinner.' All you saw was a mother enjoying her little girl's happy chit-chat over a nice dinner.

"I tried explaining the significance of your gesture in terms that an almost 8-year-old would understand. I told her that maybe it was the spirit of Christmas or maybe you're just really generous people, but it made you feel good to do something nice for someone, even someone you didn't know. The act of giving means so much more than the value of the gift.

"I hope she will keep this with her through her life."

-- KAREN MCCOLLUM, Scott

On Saturday, Dec. 8, my wife took me out to dinner for my birthday. After a fine meal at the 17th Street Cafe on the South Side, we began our drive home. On the way, however, our car hit the curb and blew out the right front tire.

I stopped on Carson Street to assess the damage and then began to look for a phone so that I could call AAA.

At that point, a young man and woman noticed our plight and initially offered us the use of their cell phone. When the man saw the nature of the problem, though, he quickly proceeded to change the tire.

Moreover, he refused my offer of payment, saying that he was happy to be of service.

At Mass the following morning, I offered up some prayers for this couple, who had told me they are planning a May wedding. I hope that they have a happy and blessed marriage -- and I thank them for helping a 76-year-old man.

-- EDWARD J. EVANS, Squirrel Hill