On Monday night, I let our two dogs out into our back yard after dinner. After a time, Abby barked to come in, but her sister, Annie, wasn't with her. I called and whistled to no avail.

Somewhat irritated at Annie's refusal to come in, I put on my coat and went out to get her. After looking all around our yard and not finding her, my anger began to change to concern.

She had never left the yard before and always came when she was called. The "girls" are 12 years old (84 in dog years) and beginning to show their years. Annie also has hip dysplasia. I returned to the house and got a flashlight and began to look more vigilantly. The far end of our yard drops off to a long hill that ends at a heavily traveled road below.

As I reached the end of the yard and looked over the hill, I saw a pickup truck stopped on the road below, its headlights shining on Annie standing in the road. I jumped into our car and drove around the block to the road. The gentleman in the pickup truck had his flashers on and was slowly following a very frightened Annie along the road to keep her from being hit.

When I told him she was my dog he told me she had fallen down the hillside and literally rolled out onto the road. I'm sure her bad hips made it impossible for her to regain her balance once she had slipped. He kept his truck in the road with the flashers on until I could get her into the car and then waved and got back into his truck.

I never got his name and I don't even remember if I said thank you. So I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks so much from Annie -- and her very grateful owner.

-- MARIAN SEFCIK, Penn Hills

My mother is the epitome of an independent, "seasoned" (read: elderly) Pittsburgher with gourmet taste. She exposed her three children to the world of cuisine by taking us from an early age to various restaurants in the Pittsburgh area and encouraging us to travel, try recipes, ask questions and be open to all tastes. (One year for Mother's Day, I bought her chocolate-covered bees and ants because I knew she would try them.)

Thank goodness Whole Foods arrived in Pittsburgh, within her driving range! My mother immediately embraced their new shopping pattern, worldly selections and open aisle conversations.

Of course, Whole Foods is where she went for the pre-Thanksgiving groceries and to order her holiday meal. This year, two out of the three kids were arriving with spouses and grandchildren and everyone was coming to her house.

Unfortunately, on this special day of shopping, she took a fall in the store and needed to go to the hospital.

Immediately, the Whole Foods personnel took care of her. Her car was not only watched over until it could be picked up, but Zach arranged for a flat tire to be repaired. Theresa was especially kind in taking care of her and her belongings. When I had the opportunity to thank Zach, he said that he hopes that someone would treat his mother the same way.

Everyone at Whole Foods stepped in like they were family, and I am so grateful. This shows that kindness and respect for the "seasoned" will never go out of style, even in this ever-changing world.

-- BJ FINKEL HOLMES, Manhattan Beach, Calif.

I am an elderly, somewhat handicapped woman who over the past few years has been the beneficiary of many, many acts of kindness by Pittsburghers.

I've often wanted to write about them, but never got around to it.

However, I would like to observe that since the Post-Gazette started printing these acts, they seem to multiplied in number. It seems that Pittsburghers have become even kinder lately. This is truly a great place to live.

-- JOANNE MCGARRY, Collier