Blog: Lucky to Live in Highland Park

I've lived in Highland Park for decades and I love our community. However, the media's almost relentless focus on crime and cruelty--yes, i know it's your their jobs and they are performing an important public service--tends to distort my perception of reality.

It's easy to forget that ours is a community--a city, a state, a country and a world--of people who are, for the most part, good-hearted, generous and even noble.

Last night, when my car broke down after dark at the intersection of Avenue 64 and York Boulevard, I felt completely alone, completely vulnerable and scared.

But, within just a few minutes, three guys, all on foot, all strangers to me and to each other, offered me assistance and two of them pushed my car out of the intersection to safety in a parking lot, where I could call for a tow.

Those Good Samaritans wouldn't even let me thank them with a tip. They just sent me beautiful smiles, as they waved goodbye. Since I'm a cynical, elderly woman, I stopped depending on the kindness of strangers a long time ago. But I want to let go of some of that cynicism. I want to send out a thank you to those three young men, not only for their help but also for reminding me how lucky I am to live among such people.