I took my 11-year-old son and his friend to the Pirates-Mets game at PNC Park on Aug. 15. At some point during the game, my son's friend realized that his wallet was missing. It contained about $20 in cash. He was really upset about losing it.

When we got to guest services to see if it had been turned in, the wallet was there -- with the $20 still inside. To whomever found that wallet: Thank You for Doing the Right Thing.

-- STEPHANIE A. WILLIAMS, Cranberry

This is a few months overdue, but I'd like to send a few words of thanks to Larry, who saved a frazzled mother the frantic chore of trying to get a replacement driver's license at the last minute.

A day or two before leaving for vacation, my teenage daughters and I returned from one of those shopping trips where we'd done errands at a bunch of places. Later, our younger daughter noticed her small wallet wasn't with her purse.

We called the stores, but no one had turned it in. Since we were going out of town, and the girls were going to be doing some of the driving, we needed to replace the license ASAP. The next day, before I had a chance to file the paperwork, a small envelope arrived in the mail with the wallet.

There was no return address on the envelope, just a short note.

So, thanks again, Larry!

-- MARIA KAUFMAN, Castle Shannon

We came to Pittsburgh from the Cincinnati area to attend the International Conference on Creationism. We dropped my husband off at the Radisson Hotel in Green Tree on Sunday, Aug. 3, to attend the week-long conference. Then I and my three small children would drive on to Zelienople for a two-day visit with my grandmother.

Our minivan acted up as soon as I started driving it from the hotel. It would not shift out of low gear on the interstate! I pulled off an exit, gave the car a rest, and then tried to go back to the hotel so my husband could have a look and fix the problem. I made it far enough back to drift into the Mt. Pisgah Presbyterian Church parking lot. I called my husband to come help, but he was already in an evening session of the conference. He would come as soon as he could. My children and I had a picnic on the lawn with the snacks we had packed.

After quite some time of waiting and walking, a gentleman from across the street asked if there was any trouble. When he discovered I was broke down with three small children, he invited us into his home to use the bathroom and have a glass of water. And what a delightful house! Grandparents themselves, they had plenty of toys for the children to play with. The next thing I knew there were PB&J's, grapes, yogurt, juice boxes, you name it! I was astounded by and grateful for their generosity.

The children played with the toys and watched television while my husband tinkered with the minivan and took it for a test drive. When he thought all was well, we all thanked our lovely hosts and then set out once again toward Zelienople. I made it quite a bit farther than the last attempt. Then, with a very loud noise from the engine, I pulled off the interstate as far as I could get and called my husband again. He came out to help again (since we didn't make it far anyway). It was getting dark. What a predicament.

I was just going to suggest that we call AAA for a tow, when a huge flashy tow truck pulled off the interstate in front of us. And what do you know? AAA was painted right on it! Dan Gordon of Cranberry Auto Center got out of his truck to discuss the problem with my husband. He was familiar with the car and its common problems and could have it fixed in two days. A woman riding with him got out too and was wonderful with our children! She loaded them up in the tow truck while Dan loaded the minivan and we were off to my grandmother's. They were a God-send!

Due to more extensive damage to the transmission than originally thought, our minivan wasn't fixed in two days -- it was fixed in two weeks. But Dan and his team were kind and honest. They explained the delay and the cost thoroughly to us. We are very happy with their work.

My grandmother is not a random stranger that took us in. But she only anticipated and planned for a two-day visit. She was the perfect hostess and enjoyed her three young great-grandchildren (she has 11 others!) almost every day.

-- JENNY SEELY, Burlington, Ky.