Roadside good Samaritan is proof that people are good
Q About two years ago, on a very rainy day, I ran into something on a two-lane road in Morgan Hill and tore the heck out of a front tire. I pulled over as soon as I could at the corner of Santa Teresa and Watsonville Road, a fairly busy intersection.
By the way, I was 87 then. — Marjorie Apel, Gilroy
A With COVID-19 shelter orders, learning that my sister-in-law in Iowa has the virus and being unable to see our 2-year-old grandson, we need some cheery news today. So back to Marjorie we go.
Q My cellphone had broken down a couple of days before, and I was waiting for a new one to come in the mail, so I had no way to communicate with anyone. I got out and started waving at cars going by, hoping to find someone who would let me use their phone. Need I tell you that a lot of cars passed me by. — Marjorie Apel
A But then up drove an angel. Q Soon, a lovely young man pulled over and asked what he could do to help. I told him my story and showed him my busted flip phone, and he immediately let me use his phone to call AAA. After I got it straightened out with them, I thanked him profusely and told him he could go. — Marjorie Apel
A But he would not leave.
Q He asked if I didn’t want to call someone else, so I called one of my granddaughters who lived within a few miles. She said she would come right down and wait with me, but he insisted on staying until someone was there to keep me company. I couldn’t believe how nice and thoughtful he was.
A And …
Q Everything came out all right, and both my granddaughter and I kept telling him how great he was. I offered him money, which he would not take.
I’m sending this along so that people will know there are still very thoughtful and kind helpers around. — Marjorie Apel
A Young man, wherever you are, thanks from Marjorie and the Roadshow faithful. You handled this perfectly.
Q The automatic inflation-adjusted gas tax increase is a way the state can increase taxes without having to vote on an increase, and therefore look bad to their constituents. It’s a sneaky way of increasing our taxes without us realizing it. — Todd Simmons, Palo Alto
A Not sneaky, but smart perhaps. The 36-cent a gallon gas tax of the early 1990s declined to one-third fewer dollars in real terms over the next decade. That’s a major reason our roads began falling apart.