On Wednesday, March 5, I had an appointment with my eye doctor in Oakland. The Access driver picked me up at home at 9:30 in the morning, making stops for several other people.

When my appointment was over, I went to the desk and asked a clerk to dial the Access number for me -- I had been given eye drops and could barely see. She kindly called for me. This was at approximately 2:30 p.m.

By 3:30, the van had not yet arrived. So I asked another clerk if she would call again. Another patient was waiting, too. The clerk nicely called for both of us.

We waited, but no ride came. So my fellow patient called a relative to come and get her. She offered me a ride as far as Downtown, where she lives. I gratefully accepted, knowing that I could surely grab a bus home. They dropped me at Gateway Center.

Well, it turns out my usual bus stop had changed because of all the construction on Stanwix Street. With my fuzzy vision, I was at a loss.

But the kindness of strangers proved true: I asked people for the Sheraden/Crafton bus and they guided me to the right side of the street. When I got there, I asked a young woman for guidance. She confirmed that I should take the 26A. She even told me when it was coming off the Fort Pitt Bridge and to stand ready at the curb so that I would get a seat. I sat beside another young girl and we had a nice conversation throughout the ride.

What had been a potentially disastrous beginning ended up as a blessing.

-- ELLEN C. FINCHER, Crafton