THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 26, 1996 TAG: 9607250158
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 28 lines
Nothing can be worse, in the course of ordinary life, than to have your car stall at a traffic light and see a cloud of steam coming up.
So, there we were, my wife and I; the light turned green and we couldn't move - totally demoralized by what has now happened to our late-model car. I no sooner put on my ``flasher'' lights and opened the hood to see a steaming hot engine than what appeared to be the beginning of an auto nightmare rapidly vanished into a wonderful experience as Good Samaritans appeared everywhere.
First, some folks pulled alongside offering water (had some); then two men in separate vehicles immediately helped push our car around the corner into a large driveway; the Clines, the residents, offered to pick up a gallon of antifreeze while going on a short errand; and his wife, before leaving, provided ice water/glasses, and the use of their shaded porch. Finally, after getting on our way 45 minutes later, we stopped to purchase additional antifreeze to ``top it off''; and while in the parking lot, with hood up, a young lady asked if she could help.
We thank all those wonderful people for their unselfish help.
Peter O. Ridgway
June 25 by CNB