Amid my Christmas cards from friends and family, I found a very peculiar envelope. It was addressed to us using my husband’s middle name and our last name. The return address was the local post office. Inside was a photocopy of a Christmas card we had addressed (but obviously didn’t mail), a $20 bill, a receipt from the post office for 44 cents, 56 cents in coins and a stick of gum.

After a few seconds of shock at the strange contents, I figured out what had happened: While I was at the post office mailing the Christmas cards, the contents of my pocket must have fallen out. Someone mailed our last card with the $1 from my pocket and sent me the change and the $20 bill that fell out of my pocket. Not only did the nice person return my money (got the address from the return address on the Christmas card), he or she took the time to buy a stamp and mail the letter before Christmas, too.

Thanks to a stranger for making my day, and holiday, a bit brighter. The person had to take many steps to do all this work for me. Thanks for being such a helpful and honest person!

Susan Finn, Mendota Heights

After hard times, a gift and wishes for health



SAINTED

On Dec. 6, a young woman knocked on our front door and handed my wife a red envelope, smiled and said, “Vignalos?”

My wife accepted the envelope, and the woman turned and left without a word before she could ask her name. In the envelope were 10 $100 bills. Written on the envelope were wishes for a healthy New Year to our family, but no identification.

Our family has had some rough times these last two years. My wife had a liver transplant in May, and recovery has been slow and painful. Our 20-year-old son had a hemorrhage near his brain stem in March. We flew to Phoenix in December for his surgery by Dr. Robert Spetzler (a renowned specialist), which was successful. Your gift helped us in many ways.

Our family can only say thank you for such caring and generosity. This world is a good place because of people like you. This gesture will be passed on and never forgotten.

Tom and Sandy Vignalo, St. Paul

SAINTED

There are two younger saints I want to thank for work they did last summer. Both young men saw a need in Birchwood, did a ton of work and received Eagle Scout Awards in the process.

Chad Peterson hosted an Arbor Day event in which he coordinated the planting of hundreds of new trees, replacing ones that had been lost to disease and age. His work will ensure shade for years.

Jake Cahill coordinated the replacement of an older, inefficient water garden and replanting hundreds of plants. His work will hold back tons of silt from flowing into White Bear Lake. Kudos to both young men. They are in inspiration to us older folks.

Randy LaFoy, Birchwood

The writer was mayor of Birchwood when the work was done.

TAINTED

On Dec. 31 at about 3:45 p.m., I was crossing Kellogg Boulevard from the south. The light turned green, the walk sign came on and I proceeded across the street. The vehicles wanting to make a left turn off St. Peter Street onto Kellogg going east, including two SUVs, came about one foot from hitting me.

The first, a white SUV, cut right in front of me; I had to slow down or get run over.

The second, a red SUV, stopped before hitting me when I was right in front of her vehicle. The woman driving just looked at me with a blank look on her face — not even a motion to say I am sorry. Luckily, the vehicle behind her did not rear-end her or I would not have seen 2010. If you do not know, the pedestrian has the right of way in the intersection; it is a Minnesota law.

I cross that intersection going to and from work four days a week. At least twice a week someone who is not paying attention tries to run me over. Evidently, getting wherever you are going is more important than paying attention to your driving.

J. Janisch, West St. Paul

SAINTED

The folks who own the old Schmidt Brewery on West Seventh Street, for putting up beautiful Christmas lights at the top of the brewery’s “castle” tower during the holidays. That little band of colored lights against the night sky brought an extra bit of Christmas wonder to the neighborhood.

And, during a very difficult time for commercial development, this small gesture helps sustain the optimism that this magnificent city landmark will come to life again in the not-too-distant future.

Paul Bard, St. Paul

SAINTED

I was waiting in line to mail a package at the North St. Paul post office the week before Christmas. I was on my lunch hour, so I had limited time. After a 40-minute wait, I was not making much progress in line, so I had to leave and return to work. A woman followed me to my car and offered to mail my package for me. When I said I didn’t have any cash and was planning to use my check card, she offered to mail it and pay for it, too. She said that is what the spirit of Christmas is all about, and just asked me to pay it forward.

I was so taken aback by her act of kindness.

I would like to thank my Christmas angel, Sonya, the principal of Cowern Elementary School.

Jeannine Ayers, Maplewood

TAINTED

The two bold, rude women who thought they were too good to have to wait for a table at a restaurant in Woodbury. It was New Years Eve; I worked all day and was hungry.

My husband and I were looking forward to some steak and lobster. It was quite crowded and we, like everyone else, waited with our buzzing gadget for a table/booth to open. We were buzzed after about a 20-minute wait. The waitress walked us to the booth but, before we could sit down, two women who had been sitting at the bar noticed the open booth and rushed over, beat us to the booth and sat down. The waitress just looked at them as if she could not believe what just happened.

Restaurant staff talked to them, and they refused to leave the booth. They obviously thought they did not have to wait like everyone else. The staff did apologize and asked us if we wanted to speak with a manager. At that time, we said no (I wish I would have). They told us we could wait for the next available booth/table and I said no, we had already waited and should have been sitting in our booth.

I wanted to confront the stubborn, arrogant women but was not going to make a scene. We were angry and left the restaurant.

We now wish the staff would have been more assertive and had called the manger immediately to talk to the two women and force them to leave and wait for a booth like everyone else.

Mary Marchetti, Maplewood

SAINTED

My thanks to the female senior citizen who went out of her way to help me clear snow from my vehicle so I could safely exit Lunds grocery in Highland Park on Dec. 30.

Many years my senior, this woman recognized my struggles on crutches and offered the gift of her time and assistance. A simple thing, really, but the thoughtfulness and caring she gave warmed my heart on that cold winter’s day.

Chris Obst, St. Paul

SAINTED

A good example of holiday spirit:

Minnesota was pummeled over the Christmas holiday by one of the most significant snowstorms in recent history. I think kudos need to go to all of the public service workers at the state, county and city levels who worked through the holiday to clear snow and ice from our roadways.

There are 135,000 miles of roadway in this state, 12,000 of which are state roadways. Probably thousands of plow operators missed time with families to clear snow from city, county and state roadways. Yes, they were just doing their jobs, but it was critically important to all of us who traveled during that time to have the snow cleared. I am grateful for the work they did helping to keep us safe.

Tom Sorel, Woodbury

The writer is Mn/DOT commissioner.

TAINTED

The rude person or persons who decided to use the alley behind our garage as their own personal trash dump and leave a mattress and box spring for someone else to get rid of. What ever happened to Minnesota nice?

Now, we will probably have to pay to have it hauled away. I just hope your children were not along to witness this unneighborly act.

Charlene Gralish, St. Paul

SAINTED

I was a bell-ringer for the Salvation Army at the Festival Foods on County Road E in White Bear Lake. The ringer on my bell broke.

I would like to thank the young gentleman who works at the Associated Bank in the store, who came to my rescue. He located tools and happily repaired my bell so I could keep ringing. Thank you.

Carol Stehly, White Bear Lake

SAINTED

Sainted to whomever set up the ringing of the bells at Blessed Sacrament Church. For over a year now, the bells ring on the hour from the church. If the wind is blowing right, I can hear the ringing when I am in the yard. I’m not a religious person, but when I hear them it is a reminder to me to be thankful for everything that is good in my world.

When I’m feeling angst, they bring a bit of peace in my heart. Thank you.

Sondra Erickson-Raths, St. Paul