Editor:

As my family and I were driving through your beautiful and sublime Fairhope (we live in Savannah, Ga.), our car suffered a flat tire late on Friday, July 13. Desperate to locate the necessary service to repair the tire, I asked for and received advice, from some young men seated in the bed of an ancient-looking pickup truck, to go to Fairhope Tire Co. on Greeno Road.

Upon arrival there I was told by one of the employees that it was late in the day, and there were 12 customers ahead of us. Also my tire was irreparably damaged and would require replacement with a new tire that they could not secure for me until the following Monday. I sensed that this employee was empathetic to my situation as he referred me to the “boss,” Mr. Ken Jansen, who confirmed the necessity of locating a new tire. He was equally empathetic, and asked me to wait as he sorted through a multitude of used tires in his inventory.

After a while he produced a tire that was slightly below the grade of my current tires but with a life expectancy beyond them, and which he certified to be safe as long as I maintained a speed below 130 mph! He asked me to return in an hour which I did. Because of the Friday afternoon backlog, the tire had not yet been installed; so Mr. Jensen, himself, placed my car’s rear tire into the position of my damaged front tire and installed the replacement tire at the rear.

As I was settling an unbelievably reasonably charge for services provided, Mr Jensen gifted me with a package of gourmet corn meal that he and his wife produce. After declining my feeble offer to pay for the gift, he wished me “God speed” and a safe trip. He informed me that his weekends were “for fishing and church,” and if I needed anything to call on him Monday. In grateful receipt for this random act of kindness, my family and I safely made our way back to Savannah.