Offers of help bring shine to day of rain

I just want to thank the two wonderful women who helped my 88-year-old mother-in-law in Bloomfield on June 30.

She lives in an assisted living facility in Oakland and walks with the aid of a walker. She went to the foot doctor on Liberty Avenue at 1 p.m. for an appointment. When her appointment was over, the receptionist called for a cab to pick her up to take her home.

After waiting for a few hours, the doctors office was closing so she went to the waiting area in the lobby to wait for the cab. After another two hours the cab still had not come. She did not have her cell phone with her, and had no way to call anyone to pick her up.

She felt that she could walk home to Bigelow Boulevard, which is a good three miles, plus it was pouring down rain. As she was walking and already soaking wet from the rain, without an umbrella, a woman approached her and asked where she was going.

When my mother told her that her cab never showed up and where she was going, the woman said that she knew exactly where she lived and offered to go get her car and drive her home.

She told my mother to wait there and watch for a red car to pull up. While my mother was waiting for this kind stranger to come with her car, another lady approached her with an umbrella, to see if she needed help since she was just standing there in the rain.

My mother explained that she was waiting for a woman to pick her up to drive her home. The second woman waited with her, keeping her dry under the umbrella until the first woman pulled up in her car. The stranger in the red car safely drove my mother home, kissed her goodbye, and drove away.

I just want to thank those two wonderful women for helping to keep my elderly mother-in-law dry and get her home safely. A three-mile walk in the pouring rain is unhealthy for anyone, especially an 88-year-old woman.

AMY STANGEL

Squirrel Hill

I was returning to work after being off for three months from knee surgery. I stopped at the Sunoco in Castle Shannon for my usual cup of morning coffee.

As I approached the checkout, I realized I had left my money in the car. A young gentleman said, "Here, let me get it."

I started to protest but he wouldn't hear of it. He said it's raining and you never know when I'll need a dollar from you if I'm ever in Shop 'n Save.

It just goes to show you how great the people are from Pittsburgh. So, I hope you're reading this -- kind, young man! It made my first day back on the job much easier.

GAY THOMAS

Castle Shannon