On Thursday, June 18, I had to take a bus into White Oak.

I had planned to take the 56C from Downtown to Penn State-McKeesport, then walk the extra half-mile or so I needed to go. I take city buses all the time but I did not know the 56C does not go to the stop I needed on every trip. When it left me off on its last stop, an apartment building in the middle of McKeesport, I stood off by myself scrambling to think of what to do.

But before I could get too concerned, the only other person on the bus with me, a woman whose name I never got, called out to me. She asked me if I needed to get to that stop, and I said I did because from there, I had directions to my final destination in White Oak.

She walked with me along the road giving me exact directions to get to where I needed to go, even telling me where I should get off next time in order to get a specific bus directly into White Oak. She even gave me her bus schedule!

She stayed with me until she got to her doctor's office where she was headed, but thanks to her guidance, I had no trouble walking to where I needed to go. Wherever you are, ma'am -- God bless and thanks again.

-- DEREK KWAIT

Oakland

Thanks to a Wal-Mart employee's prompt response, I now have a new lease on life.

On May 15, I walked into the Wal-Mart in Robinson and suffered a heart attack, collapsing on the floor and knocking a hole in my head and spilling a pool of blood. While I was still unconscious, two ladies stood over me and prayed along with a clerk from the deli counter, plus a young man who was also an employee.

An unknown individual, possibly a customer, gave me CPR, bringing me back to consciousness while a cashier took my name and emergency telephone number, calling my neighbor and a family member. The paramedics arrived and took over in such a wonderful and loving way and rushed me to Allegheny General Hospital, where I was treated by their great emergency room staff.

A few days later I had open heart surgery by a magnificent team of doctors and nurses and now I have a new lease on life.

Thank you, Wal-Mart, for your quick response, and also every individual involved in the incident. And I especially thank God for having me in the right place at the right time with the right people.

-- DAVID NEAL

Carnegie

This random act of kindness was not done by me or done to me. It was something I encountered on an average day of work, and I will remember it for a long time.

I am a shift supervisor at Bruegger's Bagels on the South Side. As I was ready to ring a family of three up, a female police officer was in line behind them. Graciously, the family offered the officer to go first; she didn't object.

As I told her the total of her bill, the mother of the family stepped up and said, "Let me take care of that for you." She explained how brave the officer is by protecting our lives each and every day and felt it was the least she could do to show her appreciation.

I think with how dark the world is at this moment, it's nice to know people like this are still around. Her motives truly inspired me. Kindness came from the caring mother and courageous officer.

-- A.J. SZALLA

South Side