Despite the crime rankings, Albuquerque has great folks

I HEAR Albuquerque has (one of the) highest crime rate(s) in the country . ...

I feel so fortunate in that everyone I have met or have been associated with are just fantastic people.

Years ago, I was working at Sandia Labs and looked up and saw it was 8 p.m. Where had the time gone? I jumped up and put on my coat, and suddenly remembered I had ridden the bus that morning. What to do? So I walked across the Sandia compound and sat at the bus stop on Wyoming, waiting for the next bus. A man pulled up and called out, “Don’t you know the last bus has left?” I wasn’t familiar with the bus schedule. He called out, “Get in and I’ll give you a ride home.” I thought of my options, either accept or walk back to my office and sleep in my chair. I thought, “He’s on base; he’s probably Q-cleared.” So I got in. He gave me a ride right to my house. I asked his name, thinking I would send him a gift certificate for lunch, but by the time I reached my front door, I had totally forgotten it . ...

This man offered me a ride home without even asking if it was out of his way or not.

Someone was hired to do work in my yard and left a huge mess. My neighbor, James Johnson, came over and cleaned it up for me. He has always been so kind to everyone in the neighborhood. He is quick to welcome newcomers and knows everyone in the area.

Yesterday friends John and Felicia Barnum came for lunch. They came in with a huge cooler filled with a banquet of food. I count them as really special people.

I feel so fortunate to live here in this wonderful area, not only for our climate, but the really great people I come in contact with.

BETTY J. HAWLEY Albuquerque