So many times we hear that services aren't what they used to be with the Post Office. I wanted to share with you the experience I had on Feb. 20.

I left a stack of envelopes, including those to be mailed and one to be deposited in the bank, on my kitchen counter the night before. When I came downstairs that morning, I was surprised to see the envelopes had disappeared.

When my husband came from his morning walk with our dog, I asked him if he had seen them. Well, you guessed it. He had "mailed" all of the envelopes. We were both upset and agitated when we drove off to work.

After arriving at work, I contacted the main branch of the Pittsburgh post office and explained my plight. The woman who answered gave me the phone of the East Liberty post office and told me to ask for the Squirrel Hill supervisor, which I did. The gentleman who responded, after asking the specifics of where the envelope had been deposited, told me that when it arrived at the post office, they would put it aside and have my local carrier deliver it with my regular mail that day.

Later, he called me to tell me that they indeed had found the envelope -- and Bill would deliver it to the house.

How wonderful it was to see that deposit envelope in our mailbox.

Thank you for delivering the mail -- including miss-mailings. "Neither snow nor rain not heat nor gloom of night" -- nor absent-minded people -- "stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

-- SHARON B. TARTER, Squirrel Hill

On Feb. 29, I was driving on the Red Belt near Bakerstown in a nasty snow and ice storm. I lost control of my car and slid off the road.

Within minutes, three gentlemen (in separate cars) stopped and offered their assistance. Unfortunately, I was not able to get their names.

As we were working the car out of the ditch, almost every car and truck driving by slowed down to also offer help.

I grew up around Pittsburgh until I was 16. I moved to several cities and for more than 20 years, I longed for home. This example of these men helping is a prime reason that I love living here.

I wanted to say thank you to those three complete strangers for their unsolicited help. Be proud of your home, Pittsburghers -- this is the best place to live, with the greatest people on Earth.

-- KEVIN J. KINNEY, Marshall

I moved to Pittsburgh from Atlanta almost 8 months ago. I am a born and bred Southerner, so I knew things might be a little different. I was prepared for that, but what transpired earlier this month was something for which I was hardly prepared at all.

I was driving down Bigelow Boulevard at 6:10 p.m. in rush-hour traffic. Suddenly, without warning, my minivan conked out. The engine just stopped.

Immediately, I put on the hazards. I attempted to turn into a small parking area at 3319 Bigelow. I could only move my car enough to put it in at a 45-degree angle. The back half of my van was still in the lane. After engaging the parking brake, I attempted to wave down someone to help me.

All I needed was a couple of strong guys to help push my car out of oncoming traffic. I began to panic a bit after five minutes had passed --not one person had offered help. My 5-month-old baby and my 7-year old daughter were in the back seat. I knew I had to do something.

By this point I had already phoned the police, AAA and my husband, but of course all of them were stuck in traffic trying to get to me.

I tried in vain to flag down someone, anyone to offer me aid. No one stopped. Fifteen more minutes passed. This feels like an eternity when you are praying to God that no one will crash into you and your children.

Finally, I flagged down a pedestrian. One minute later my husband arrived, and then one motorist finally did stop. Together, the three men were able to push the minivan completely off the main road. Finally, our lives were no longer in such serious jeopardy. Thanks to these two strangers, our lives were moved out of harm's way.

It shocked me that no one stopped for such a long time. But even more, while I pleaded for help, people slowed, stared, yelled, scowled, cursed, shot me the bird and told me to "move my damn car."

There must have been dozens upon dozens of Pittsburghers who found the time and energy to engage in this negative, inconsiderate behavior -- but there were only two who stopped to help. Thanks, guys -- you may quite possibly have saved our lives.

-- JENNIFER A. OSBURG, Mars