Man surprised and gratified by help of Christmas angels after Kelligrews mishap

Dear Editor:

I would like, through The Shoreline, to publicly thank several wonderful citizens of our beautiful community for their kindness, compassion and empathy shown to me on Saturday, December 2nd around suppertime. I was just exiting the parking lot of Clip-n-Dale’s in Kelligrews where my dog, Paddy, had been beautifully groomed. As I was about to make the left turn onto the road, I misjudged where the ditch was and drove the driver’s side front wheel of my vehicle well into the ditch. Almost immediately, Karen Nelson, Jackie Menscola and Bradley Piercey saw my predicament and came to offer help, even though my dog and I were unhurt.

Because Paddy and I were fine, I suggested they could leave and attend to their own concerns, but they would have none of it and insisted on staying with me. In retrospect, I’m very glad they stayed because I was a bit rattled with concern for my dog and vehicle. Not only did they stay, but they also arranged for Perry’s Towing to come and pull the vehicle from the ditch. While waiting, they were constantly checking on my Paddy because he was still lying on the floor and was very frightened. Also, they were expressing their kindness and empathy for me and my situation. Wonderfully considerate and good people! 

Perry’s Towing arrived in a very short time and made this even more of a Christmas story than I could have ever imagined. He and his lady assistant hooked the vehicle up and in short order had it back on the road without so much as a scratch on it. Once the vehicle was out of the ditch, the first thing these good people did was take my frightened Paddy off my hands by his leash so that I could compensate Perry. To my jaw dropping surprise, when Perry and his lady assistant finished unhooking my vehicle and came towards me – before I could even thank them – the unbelievably kind words that there would be no charge – “That’s your Christmas present, Merry Christmas!” rolled off his kind tongue with a big smile. No matter that I offered to pay him, he insisted, with a big warm heart I’m sure, that it was my Christmas present. To say the least, I was flabbergasted, thanked him and my other good Samaritans sincerely and he drove off with a big horn honk and a wave.

Now, to my mind, that’s a real Christmas story filled with kindness, consideration, empathy and giving expecting nothing in return. That’s why I hope you will allow me to publicly thank them all by name. Merry Christmas!

Sincerely,

Paul Duggan and Paddy