Kindness, Decency Not Yet Extinct

This letter is about kindness and human decency. Just as I was beginning to believe that there wasn’t anyone around with either quality anymore, someone did something nice for me and my mother. Before I go any further, let me tell you I am the care giver for my mother, who has had several strokes and now has dementia (not Alzheimer’s).

Our car died on us on Telegraph Road about half a mile east of Wells Road on Christmas night. A car traveling east slowed and turned around. The driver stopped right in front of us, put his window down and said, “What can I do to help? The same thing happened to me last year, so I know what it is like.”

I nearly fell over from surprise! Imagine someone pulling over offering to help total strangers--let alone on a pitch-black road. Then he said, “I’ll take you wherever you need to go, but not for money!”

I know better, but sometimes I think that Mom’s dementia is contagious because my memory is so bad. I think the man that picked us up was named Alesandro and he lived in Santa Paula, but I failed to get his full name and phone number. Alesandro, if you should read this, I would like to personally thank you. The Times has my phone number.

Thank you for your attention and help.

VINCENT S. SALEM

Ventura