DEAR ABBY: Your columns about the kindness of strangers impel me to relate a recent experience. As an 80-year-old retired general contractor, I stay busy by making custom furniture. Recently, I picked up a full load of hardwood planks.
Because some of the pieces were very long, I had to keep the tailgate of my pickup truck down. All went well until I reached the first stop sign. When I started to pull away, my truck went forward, but the load stayed put! Halfway across the busy intersection with traffic going all directions, I panicked. I knew I couldn't lift those 46 planks by myself.
Out of nowhere, two gentlemen rushed through the traffic, and without a word, began loading the planks, two at a time, into my truck. When they were all loaded, I offered each young man my heartfelt thanks. My proffered reward was brushed aside with a short, "That's not necessary. Have a good day!" People are great in Southern California. -- GRATEFUL IN GARDEN GROVE, CALIF.
DEAR GRATEFUL: Actually, people are great all over. But as another resident of Southern California, I second the motion.