It’s hard to believe that the time has already come for Thanksgiving Day. I hope you have something to be thankful for this year. I am thankful that I am about to have a new granddaughter, who will be born by the time you read this. My daughter, Curly Girl, will be thankful that she finally got that baby out of her, because the kid is constantly kicking her guts, now demanding to be released from her mother prison.

Last week, we asked you for some incidents of strangers helping you for no reason, to cheer us all up from recent stressful events. I didn’t have room for all the great answers, but here are a few, edited for length.

Hedy Williamson, Laguna Woods: In 2000 my husband and I (retired) were in a rented RV in the Tasmanian backcountry. In the twilight, on a narrow and winding road, we came to a flat. Just then, a transport van came. The driver shouted “What’s the matter mate?” By the time my husband said “I think we’ve got a jack somewhere,” we had our own personal pit crew of five lumberjacks in orange suits who had their own tools out and spares installed, refused payment or even some beers and they were on their way. When I told other Aussies about our experience and how amazing it was that the crew helped us, their uniform response was “Amazing? Why? Of course they helped you.”

Gloria, Mission Viejo: About 6 months ago our little chihuahua/papillon dog was attacked by a coyote. After a very expensive vet bill to suture and add drains to her neck, she is back home. Despite the cone of shame, she still tried to scratch the area with her hind legs. I went to our local pet store to buy some dog booties and realized I forgot my wallet. The nice clerk knew I was having a bad day so she used her money to buy the slippers and gave me a big hug. Of course I paid her back the next day and wrote the store a nice “congratulations” for her.

Tom Wright, Fountain Valley: On spring break from Cal Poly Pomona in 1967, some friends and I foolishly drove to Mazatlán in my 1955 VW van. I was on our way home when the flywheel on the van broke. The six of us were now stranded on the side of the road about 75 miles from any town. After about 30 minutes, an old man driving a big truck with old stakes pulled up and offered to tow us with a rope he had in his truck. Just as we reached the next town, the rope broke and the van rolled into a closed gas station where several men were partying. They came and saw our problem and immediately started pushing the van into an adjacent residential area where they stopped in front of a house. One of the men went in and came out with a man who had a tissue tucked into his shirt. He was in the middle of dinner! He had someone remove his oxyacetylene apparatus and welded the flywheel back onto the van. He didn’t ask for anything, but we gave him all the money we could spare. Every time I think about that experience, I am filled with gratitude to God and to those who helped us.

John Ruffner, North Hollywood: When we adopted two babies from Russia, at the airport we had to strip almost naked and I forgot to pack my backpack containing our very important documents. On the plane, the pilot made an announcement in Russian. As luck would have it, the three cute Russian angels sitting behind us happened to speak English and asked me if I was missing a backpack. After reuniting me with my infinitely valuable purse, they were also happy to entertain our new babies while we ate lunch somewhere above the Ural mountains.

Denise Mentz, La Mirada: Something so simple yet sweet. I am 59 years old and an older couple came to the bank. The husband sat down. No other seats. I stood up and gave the seat to his wife. She was grateful. Another man who was sitting down went to the conference room area to get a chair and brought it for me to sit down. I was careful and it came right back to me!

Reading Denise’s story reminded me of the millions of times young men stood up and gave me their seats on crowded buses when they saw I was shaken, especially in Mexico and other countries where boys are taught this as a basic courtesy .

Do you have more stories? Please keep emailing me at [email protected]. And Happy Thanksgiving!