Timely Help From Angels

For the second time in four days, I was rescued by a good Samaritan today, or perhaps I should say a guardian angel.

Last Friday, my car stalled in a position to block traffic. A woman stopped and--with her hands--pushed my Nova to the curb. Then she took my auto club information, left to make the phone call and returned to tell me that help was on the way.

I got only her first name: Karen.

Today, as I was driving west on Roscoe in heavy rain, a truck passed without slowing at the flooded intersection and soaked my car, which stopped. Within minutes, a van pulled up and the driver hitched my car to the van with a rope and towed me three blocks to a parking area. In the pouring rain, he lifted the hood and started the engine.

“Where do you have to go?” he asked. He didn’t seem to notice that he was drenched. “Just home,” I answered. “It’s about three miles.” He said, “I’ll follow and make sure you make it safely, if it’s OK with you.”

I thanked him and, feeling awkward, offered him money. He refused. I got home safely although a little shaky from the experience.

He said his name was Jim. I think he was an angel.

Amid all the depressing news these days, it’s good to know there are kind, caring people who will stop in a storm to help a stranger, without regard for their own safety.

My heartfelt thanks to Karen and Jim.

LILY DE LAUDER, North Hollywood