Susan Birch, Hampton
One Sunday night while driving home from a friend's house in the East End of Pittsburgh, I fell asleep at the wheel, crashed into a utility pole and wiped out a mailbox on Mount Royal Boulevard in Shaler. I want to thank the gentleman who came out of this home and comforted me until the police arrived. I also want to thank the Shaler EMTs for their gentle manner, as they evaluated me and checked my mental clarity, and the tow truck driver from Jeff Critchlow's for his sound advice. A special thanks to the Shaler and the Hampton police officers who gave me a ride home. You all made a frightening experience tolerable!
Katie Anderson, Mt. Lebanon
When your spare set of car keys slides off the roof of your car (don't ask!) on to a busy four-lane highway, you assume they're gone forever. But, thanks to the kindness of a Mt. Lebanon police officer, I have them back. The officer followed my car to the spot on Conner Road, where I thought the keys had fallen. He pulled up behind my car, set his flashing lights, and, with cars moving cautiously past him, walked on the roadway to retrieve the keys.
Learning that the remote door opener, which had been attached to the key, was missing, he continued walking down that busy road looking for it. He picked up pieces of the mangled device, and, wonder of wonders, the battered key still worked! Not a rescue, not an apprehension, and probably no big deal to him, but the kindness and courtesy of that police officer really made my day.
Jody Vater, Kennedy
My friend Kim Moslen and I were walking up to purchase tickets to hear Dr. Dobson speak at the Mellon Arena during his recent rally here. As we approached the ticket window, a man walked up to us and asked if we needed tickets. He said he had two extra and that we could have them. Kim asked him how much we owed him, and he said nothing. Thank you very much to this kind man!
Anne Eichenlaub, Fox Chapel
Two weeks ago, I lost my wallet at Station Square. I am a freshman at Duquesne University and was upset since my student ID, driver's license, bank card and $50 were in it. Amazingly, a Good Samaritan found it and turned it in to Stacey Chambers at the Station Square parking garage.
She put substantial effort into tracking me down and returning the wallet to me -- with all of its contents, including the cash! Following the tragic events at Duquesne University, it is nice to know there are still kind, decent, honest people out there. People like these help to make Pittsburgh a great city.
Alix Paul, Fox Chapel
I am an artist selected to participate in the "Doors of Oakland" public art project, as part of the Beautify Oakland campaign. On day one of beginning to adhere my mosaic creation onto the assigned door on Semple Street, to my surprise, I discovered four layers of old paint, which would need to be removed to begin the project. I found some sandpaper, but after two exhausting hours of sanding, I barely made a dent.
Suddenly, a curious Oakland resident appeared, then left. He returned with an electric sander. Within two hours, I was able to finish sanding the door and begin the project at hand. Were it not for him, the sanding would have taken two days and a physical and mental toll as well! I wish to extend my deep gratitude to the kind electric-sander angel. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!
First Published: October 7, 2006, 4:00 a.m.