On Saturday, June 20, I was in a hurry to pick up my mom from Linda's hair salon on Potomac Avenue in Dormont. I was in such a rush leaving the house, I neglected to change out of my sandals and into my trusty tennis shoes, which I always wear when getting my mom. I need to be sure-footed helping her and holding on to my miniature schnauzer, who loves to come along on these Saturday morning trips to pick up mom.

Not finding a parking spot on the hair salon side of the street, I parked my car at the CoGo's on the corner, and gathered up my dog. Two women with a little white dog were passing as we were dashing, so we stopped to say a quick doggie "Hello."

I then checked the street. It was a clear shot between the traffic. I tugged on the leash and set out at a trot across Potomac.

But my dog held back. I lost my balance as I was running, came out of my sandals -- and sailed face-first into the curb, on the opposite side of the street.

As I saw the curb coming up, I heard the women we had just spoken to exclaim that I was falling. They were at my side in what seemed an instant. I was dazed and bloody. They took charge of my dog, called 911, notified the people at Linda's salon and my husband.

It's all a blur, but I know they where there for me and I can't thank them enough. There were four or five other good-hearted people who joined these two women, offering help. Two men came with cold cloths and one tried to spray my bloodied arm with antiseptic; someone went to my car to retrieve my purse and cell phone. Thank you all. I am so grateful for your help and concern. You all are a tribute to the wonderful people of Dormont and the Pittsburgh area.

Fortunately, I only broke my nose and a few fingers, and I am on the mend. I feel fortunate -- the injuries could have been more serious, or I could have fallen and been alone. I want to thank the folks at the CoGo's, who told my husband not to worry about leaving the car in their lot and to leave it there as long as necessary. I would also like to thank the policeman who responded quickly, the ambulance crew, and Linda who recruited her uncle Pat to pick up my mom and my dog. You guys were great.

We are known as the City of Champions, but not all of our champions wear a uniform with a number on their backs!

-- ERIN CORDELL, Mt. Lebanon

My wife wanted to go see her brother in Clinton, Pa. I thought I would try a different route, going down 79 South. I got off the wrong exit and ended up in Imperial.

I stopped at a restaurant where people were coming out and asked for directions. One family was immediately very helpful. They told me to follow them. They went out of their way to set me on the correct path so I wouldn't get lost. And they even called my wife's brother's house, to ask him to meet us at a gas station because I had no cell phone.

Without their help, I would have never found our destination. Nothing was familiar to me. And if my wife's sister-in-law had not been called to come and meet us at the gas station, it would have been a wasted day.

What wonderful people they all were, to put themselves out like this. And as icing on the cake: They even called the house to make sure we had gotten there all right! Thank you to a wonderful family.

-- RUSS SMITH (and Marge), Marshall

When spring arrived this year, it brought the great energy of spring cleaning, moving and general clean-up. These activities create house, garage and rummage sales. A number of friends and I enjoy these sales - a real treasure hunt.

One weekend in April, we were on the hunt. Disability and lupus have really slowed me down, but I persist.

We arrived at a house sale on Haymaker Road in Monroeville. The sidewalk looked like it could handle my walker. But the sidewalk ended on a terrace, which I crept down very carefully. It was a relief to gain solid ground.

My friend Barbara and I began our poking around for "treasures" and eventually went our separate ways. While she was gone, a young man approached me, saying he wanted to show me something. He pulled out of storage a new-looking walker - with a seat, basket and brakes, it was a Cadillac of walkers. He told me it had belonged to his uncle, and it was his plan to give it to some organization. But after watching my dangerous-looking descent, he would rather give it to me!

It has been a dream of mine to someday acquire one of these "Cadillacs," so far out of my reach. With tears of joy, prayers and many thanks, I tried to convey my gratitude to a total stranger who has opened a whole new world to me.

Thank you again, Ed, from the bottom of my heart and soul.

-- ANNE STEWART, Swissvale

The storm that pounded our area a week ago Wednesday night left me stranded inside the safe confines of the Squirrel Hill branch of the Carnegie Library. It was spectacular sight, watching the storm from the front wall of windows. Thunder and lightning cracked around us and upper Murray Avenue was soon flooded and impassable.

The library was scheduled to close in a few minutes. I wondered how I would get myself safely back to my car, parked a long block away, without an umbrella or raincoat. I expressed my concerns to a fellow patron.

Several minutes later, she returned -- with a newly purchased rain poncho. It was a $1.50 special from a nearby store. She refused to be reimbursed, saying that it gave her such please to help someone. Her wide smile convinced me of that.

I am new to Pittsburgh. It felt good to know that there are guardian angels here when you need them. Many thanks to this generous, thoughtful woman, whose name I did not get. And I also thank the librarians at the Squirrel Hill branch, who kept the library open an extra half-hour and made sure that all the patrons had a safe way to get hom.

It took me a long time to get home, but I felt assured that I would, knowing that this is a city full of caring people.

-- JULIA O'CONNELL, Swisshelm Park

Recently my friend started a series of chemotherapy treatments and, of course, lost her hair. I decided I would buy her a scarf or cute cap.

I went into a specialty shop in Scott Town Center to look at scarves. The owner, a lovely lady, approached me and we began to chit chat. She showed me the perfect scarf, as my friend had said that she would like to have an animal print. The scarf, however, cost more than I had planned on spending, so I started to look at hats and found what I wanted.

I took it to the counter to pay for it. The owner put it in a bag -- along with the beautiful animal-print scarf. I told her that I wanted only the hat. Her reply: "I want your friend to have this scarf." She also told me to pick an "angel pin."

What a wonderful act of kindness, as you see, this lady doesn't know me or my friend. Indeed, we both met an angel that day.

-- E. BUBONICH, Carnegie