One cold evening in February, I had a mean craving for a meatball sandwich. At the mere mention of this hankering, my husband briskly headed out in the snow to pick one up.

I was nine months pregnant. To say I was cranky is an understatement.

We live in the South Side, so he faithfully walked to one of my favorite places in our neighborhood -- the Carson Street Deli. However, the staff there told him they no longer included a meatball sandwich on the menu.

My husband, reluctant to bear this news to me in my "delicate" state, continued down East Carson in search of one. Mario's looked promising. Alas, there was no meatball sandwich on the menu.

This is when the fine folks at Mario's shared kindness and empathy.

Before my husband made it out the door, he was asked: What are you unable to find on our extensive menu? He explained the situation. Heads nodded in recognition.

He was told if he (and I) could wait a few extra minutes, they would take care of it.

Before long, a fabulous sandwich of homemade meatballs, melted cheese and delicious sauce on excellent bread was in my hands -- along with an encouraging note wishing us luck.

Man, did that sandwich hit the spot.

On behalf of my former-pregnant self -- and my beautiful baby boy (Simon, born Feb. 12) -- I would like to thank them for such a satisfying treat.

-- ERIN MARKS, South Side

I was out running errands the other day and was coming out of Walgreens in the McKnight-Siebert Shopping Center. I had a full bag of purchases and was also carrying a gallon of ice tea and my purse.

I tripped over a speed bump and went down flat on my face and was sprawled out in the parking lot and hurting.

Out of the blue, a man appeared. He took over the whole situation: told me not to get up, gathered up my stuff from the parking lot, opened the Kleenex I had in my bag and wiped my face off and asked me if my back hurt, did this hurt, did that hurt.

I gazed at him. "You are so kind," I said. "Are you married?"

He laughed and continued to make me feel more at ease and less embarrassed. He helped me get up from the ground. Some lady said she had called an ambulance.

In the meantime my chin is swelling up, my glasses are scraped and ruined. My top is torn and dirty and my wrist and knees are hurting. I said to him, "Get me out of here, please -- I am not going anywhere in an ambulance."

He is wiping off my purse that is soaked in ice tea and telling me if this is the worst thing that happens to me today, I will be fine. Then we hear the siren and see the ambulance coming and he said, "OK, let's get you out of here." He takes me to my car, put my things in the car, helps me into the car. I am able drive myself home and tend to my scrapes and bruises. I had no serious injury at all.

This man, whose name is Dave, has restored my faith in mankind and I hope I get the chance to pay his kindness forward. Because of Dave, this unpleasant experience turned out to be an experience that touched my heart and taught me never to underestimate the kindness of strangers.

-- EVELYN GUIDISH, Shaler

In early April, while getting ready to put hand lotion on, I noticed the three-diamond "journey" ring my husband had bought me for Christmas a few years ago was missing. It had become loose on my pinky finger and I started wearing it only on special occasions. We had been out the night before and I guess I forgot to take it off.

As I re-traced my steps for that day, I realized that it could have been lost at several locations. Naturally I searched my house but the others were all businesses. I began to pray to St. Anthony to help me find it.

Well, on a recent Thursday, I went to my Giant Eagle at Brighton Road and Bascom Avenue to do my regular shopping. As I walked in I thought, I'm going to ask customer service if anyone turned in a diamond ring. It couldn't hurt. I hate myself for thinking at the time ... this is a waste of time ... who would return such a beautiful piece of jewelry?

You guessed it! Some kind and honest person found my ring in the store and turned it over to customer service.

I can't tell you the feeling I had shopping throughout that store today.

Thank you so much for getting my ring back to me.

I wouldn't live anywhere else. Pittsburghers rock!

-- MICHELE CLOONAN, Brighton Heights