Letter writers seek hope -- and suggest answers

STORIES FROM THE HEART OF THE CITY... It always happens around Christmas. Santa's mailbag gets heavier and so, coincidentally, does mine.

Except the people who write to me aren't looking for gifts. They're searching for help, hope and an answer to it all. So today I bring you three letters and three stories on those themes, including an unexpected bonus.

An answer.

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THE TRAFFIC TICKET...

Dear Mr. Sinclair,

I need help.

I have been on CPP Disability for quite a number of years. I receive $581.42 TOTAL income monthly. No prescription help, no housing benefits, no extras of any kind. I have a severe mental disability diagnosis of bipolar and borderline personality disorders.

Leaving Winnipeg Harvest food bank on Thursday, Nov. 26, at 9:56 a.m. and travelling to a psychiatric appointment, I made an error and turned down Donald Street from Portage Avenue.

I live in the country. Not being that familiar with all the specifics of turning off Portage and, it being rush-hour traffic with a huge truck in front of me, I missed the no-turning sign.

A police officer standing in the middle of the street waved me over and ticketed me $190.80. Those are the most expensive free groceries I ever got.

I had to sit for a while before continuing to my appointment because I was crying so hard I couldn't drive. I really don't have a clue how I will ever pay this ticket, plus, if I don't pay by their deadline, I will incur an additional charge of $50 as a default penalty, totalling $240.80.

What can I do?

I realize that this letter may never do me any good, but I have been able to get it off my chest. Thank you.

---- Joanie

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THE STOLEN BICYCLE...

Dear Mr. Sinclair,

My oldest son just called from his work that someone stole his bike. This happened between 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 28 in front of a very busy Wal-Mart on Ellice Avenue. This is a bad time for this to happen to my son, because my husband is out of work (looking for a Class 1 driving position but, since he does not have any experience, there is no work), and I just was laid off. The bike was my son's transportation to work. In the past, no matter where we lived or how careful we lock up our bikes, some (blank) either vandalizes the bike, flattens tires, steals the seat.

What can a person do?

Sorry, but like I said, this is a really bad time in our lives for this to happen to my son. Thank you for your time.

-- Susan Green

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THE GIFT...

Dear Mr. Sinclair:

I was at the Zellers on Henderson Highway Saturday for their Moonlight Madness sale. My mother and I had gone there to get two Nintendo Ds that were on sale at 9 p.m. There were only 15 on sale but, after hundreds of people showed up, the saleslady ended up handing out tickets and pulling an additional 30 off the shelves.

One lady and her little boy -- who had been wandering the store for hours waiting for the sale to start -- came back to discover tickets were given out and they did not receive one.

The little boy was devastated.

He had been saving his money.

Then a man -- who also waited almost three hours for the sale to start -- gave his ticket to the little boy.

I went to the saleslady and explained what the man had done. She had one more ticket that someone had dropped and not claimed. She gave it to the man.

I know you cannot judge a book by its cover, but he did not look like he was a man of means. I can tell you that not only myself, but others in line, felt very guilty for not offering our tickets.

In all of the hardships and negativity we face in our everyday lives, if just once a year we all did something completely unselfish the world would be a better place.

-- Sheri Borgfjord

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THE POSTSCRIPT...

Since she asked, I advised Joanie, the woman who wept after being ticketed, to plead guilty with an explanation. This is one wrong turn that deserves a good turn from a magistrate.

Meanwhile, there also was some hope on the horizon for Susan, the mother whose son had his bike stolen. The bike hasn't been found, but Wednesday morning she was off to write a test for a job at Revenue Canada.

Finally, there's the promised bonus.

The answer.

Actually, it was supplied by Sheri and the man at Zellers.

Try a little unselfishness and some compassion and understanding, too.

Help someone hope.

As Sheri suggested, it can do you a world of good.

gordon.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 3, 2009 B1